Country: United States

Title: Updated regulated areas for the Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis) in the United States

Contact:
Paul Chaloux, EAB National Policy Manager, at (301) 851-2064

Report: EAB is an invasive wood boring beetle that is native to China and other areas of East Asia. The beetle is present in some portions of the United States, and because of its continuing spread, APHIS has established regulated areas that are designated in the Code of Federal Regulations at 7 CFR 301.53-3 and the Federal Orders located at:

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/planthealth/eab_quarantine

The interstate movement of firewood from quarantine areas is an especially high-risk pathway for spreading EAB. Therefore, APHIS works with State cooperators and foresters to prevent the human assisted movement of EAB, develop biological and other controls for EAB, and raise public awareness about this pest and the potential threats associated with long-distance movement of firewood.

The following are recent updates to the regulated areas for EAB.

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has expanded the list of regulated areas for EAB to include the entire state of Iowa due to the detection of EAB in widely separated locations in the state. APHIS previously regulated only a portion of Iowa due to the establishment and enforcement of equivalent state quarantines. However, Iowa has now expanded its EAB quarantine to include all counties in the state. For this reason, APHIS is adding all of Iowa to its list of regulated areas to prevent the spread of EAB to other states.

APHIS is removing protected area status for EAB for the following Illinois counties: Carroll, Henderson, Jo Daviess, Mercer, Rock Island, Stephenson, Warren, and Whiteside. APHIS is taking this action in response to the confirmation of EAB in Jo Daviess, Rock Island, Stephenson, and Whiteside Counties and the addition of these eight counties to the State of Illinois’ EAB quarantine in 2013. These counties remain under quarantine for EAB. Protected areas are defined as any area identified by a State as pest free, for which the state has regulations to protect against the artificial intrastate spread of EAB, and which shall remain protected against regulated articles moving from quarantined areas (Federal Order DA-2012-18 of May 31, 2012).

APHIS is removing protected area status for EAB in the following Indiana counties: Crawford, Daviess, Greene, Martin, and Perry. APHIS is taking this action in response to the confirmation of EAB in these counties. These counties remain under quarantine for EAB.

APHIS has expanded the list of regulated areas for EAB to include the entire Commonwealth of Kentucky. APHIS is taking this action in response to the detection of EAB in widely separated locations in Kentucky. APHIS previously regulated only a portion of Kentucky due to the establishment and enforcement of equivalent state quarantines. Kentucky, however, has rescinded its EAB quarantine, so APHIS is adding all of Kentucky to the APHIS list of regulated areas to prevent the spread of EAB to other states.

In addition, APHIS has added Boulder County and portions of Jefferson, Larimer, and Weld Counties in Colorado to the list of regulated areas for the emerald ash borer (EAB) due to the detection of EAB in Boulder County. APHIS has added Dane County in Wisconsin to the list of regulated areas for the emerald ash borer (EAB) due to the detection of EAB in Dane County. APHIS has added Jackson and Scott Counties in Tennessee to the list of regulated areas for the emerald ash borer (EAB) due to the detection of EAB in Jackson and Scott Counties. APHIS has added Essex County in Massachusetts to the list of regulated areas for the emerald ash borer (EAB) due to the detection of EAB in Essex County.

The Federal Order outlines specific conditions for the interstate movement of EAB-regulated articles from the quarantined areas to prevent the spread of EAB to other states. Specifically, the interstate movement of EAB-host wood and wood products from the quarantined areas is regulated, including firewood of all hardwood species, nursery stock, green lumber, waste, compost, and chips of ash species.

Under IPPC Standards, Agrilus planipennis is considered to be a pest that is present in some parts of the United States and subject to official control to prevent further spread.
 

Posted Date: May 22, 2014, 9 a.m.