Kentucky quarantines 20 counties to contain emerald ash borer.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
For more information contact:
Bill Clary
(502) 564-1137

LEXINGTON, Ky. — State officials have issued a quarantine for 20 Kentucky counties regulating the transportation outside those counties of articles that could harbor the emerald ash borer.

“It’s important that we act quickly and aggressively to contain the spread of this pest inKentucky,” Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer said. “Kentucky is the nation’s third-largest producer of hardwood lumber. This industry is responsible for thousands of jobs and generates millions of dollars of economic activity in Kentucky. I will do whatever I can within the law to safeguard Kentucky’s wood industry.”

State Entomologist John Obrycki issued the quarantine on Monday with the advice and consent of Commissioner Farmer and M. Scott Smith, dean of the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, as required by state law.

The quarantine prohibits “regulated articles” from being moved outside a quarantined area without a certificate or limited permit except under certain conditions. A regulated article may be moved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture or the Kentucky Department of Agriculture for experimental or scientific purposes; may be moved in an enclosed vehicle or completely covered to prevent access by the emerald ash borer (through Sept. 30); may be moved directly through the quarantined area without stopping except for traffic conditions and refueling; may be moved if it is stored, packed or handled at locations that do not pose a risk of infestation; and may be moved if it has not been combined or commingled with other articles.

“Regulated articles” are defined as the emerald ash borer, hardwood firewood, ash nursery stock, green ash lumber, other ash material, and any other materials that present a threat of artificial spread of the emerald ash borer.

The counties under quarantine are Boone, Bourbon, Campbell, Carroll, Fayette, Franklin,Gallatin, Grant, Harrison, Henry, Jefferson, Jessamine, Kenton, Oldham, Owen, Pendleton, Scott, Shelby, Trimble and Woodford. The quarantined area includes the seven counties where the emerald ash borer has been identified – Campbell, Fayette, Franklin, Jefferson, Jessamine, Kenton and Shelby – plus counties close to an infestation site and counties with a high density of ash trees.

Persons may obtain a certificate to move regulated articles to any destination in Kentucky when, in the judgment of an inspector, the articles have not been exposed to the emerald ash borer, appear to be free of the emerald ash borer, have been treated to destroy the emerald ash borer, or have been grown, produced, manufactured, stored or handled in such a manner that their movement does not present a risk of spreading the emerald ash borer. Persons may obtain limited permits to move regulated articles to specific destinations in Kentucky if the regulated articles are apparently free of emerald ash borer; have been grown, produced, manufactured, stored or handled in a manner that prevents the articles from presenting a risk of spreading the emerald ash borer; or are to be moved under conditions that will not result in the spread of the emerald ash borer because the insect will be destroyed by the articles’ handling, utilization, processing or treatment.

Persons who intend to move any regulated articles shall apply for inspection at least 48 hours before the services are needed. An inspector may stop and inspect, destroy, seize, stop sale or treat any regulated articles or may order them returned to the point of origin at the owner’s expense.

The emerald ash borer (EAB) is an exotic beetle native to the Far East. It was first discovered in North America in June 2002 in southeast Michigan. EAB has been identified in 12 states and two Canadian provinces. It can kill an ash tree within two to three years of infestation.

Ash trees are widely used in urban landscapes and are ecologically valuable for their ability to fill gaps and provide shade for the forest floor. Ash wood is used in a wide variety of applications, including baseball bats.

To report a possible infestation, call the EAB Hotline, 1-866-322-4512, or the Kentucky state entomologist’s office at (859) 257-5838. For the latest on emerald ash borer in Kentucky, go tohttp://pest.ca.uky.edu/EXT/EAB/welcome.html. For more information about the emerald ash borer, go to www.emeraldashborer.info.