APHIS Removes Protected Areas In Illinois and Indiana for Emerald Ash Borer (EAB)

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FOR INFORMATION AND ACTION

DA-2016-04

 

Subject:           APHIS Removes Protected Area Status for All Protected Area Counties in Illinois and Indiana for Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis)

 

To:                   State and Territory Agricultural Regulatory Officials

 

Effective immediately, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is removing protected area status for all protected area counties in Illinois and Indiana. APHIS is taking this action in response to the detection of EAB in numerous protected area counties in both states, the rescission or expansion of state-level quarantines in these two states, and at the request of the state plant regulatory officials in Illinois and Indiana. The removal of the protected areas in these two states means that movement of regulated articles within the entirety of the contiguous quarantine area is not subject to regulatory restrictions. All of Illinois and Indiana 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).

 

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

 

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 (CFR) 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 quarantined areas is an especially high-risk pathway for the spread of 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 the long-distance movement of firewood.

 

For more information about the EAB program and federal EAB regulations, please call EAB National Policy Manager Paul Chaloux at 301-851-2064.

 

Osama El-Lissy

Deputy Administrator

Plant Protection and Quarantine

 


 

FEDERAL ORDER

 

Removal of Protected Area Status for Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) (Agrilus planipennis) for all Protected Area Counties in Illinois and Indiana

 

DA-2016-04

 

 

This Federal Order removes protected area status for EAB for all protected area counties in Illinois and Indiana.

 

This Federal Order is issued in accordance with the regulatory authority provided by the Plant Protection Act of June 20, 2000, as amended, Section 412(a), 7 U.S.C. 7712(a). The Act authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to prohibit or restrict the movement in interstate commerce of any plant, plant part, or article, if the Secretary determines the prohibition or restriction is necessary to prevent the dissemination of a plant pest within the United States. This Federal Order is also issued pursuant to the regulations promulgated under the Plant Protection Act found at 7 CFR 301.53.

 

On May 31, 2012, APHIS issued Federal Order DA-2012-18 to allow the unrestricted movement of regulated articles within contiguous regulated boundaries, with the exception of movements to protected areas in the non-infested counties in Illinois and Indiana. Protected areas are defined in Federal Order DA-2012-18 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.

 

Effective immediately, this Federal Order removes protected area status for all protected area counties in Illinois and Indiana. This action is in response to the confirmation of EAB in multiple protected area counties and the rescission or expansion of state-level quarantines for EAB in these two states. Thus, the Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) finds it necessary to remove protected area status for all protected area counties in Illinois and Indiana. Accordingly, effective immediately, EAB regulated articles may move freely into and out of the entirity of Illinois and Indiana within contiguous quarantined areas. However, EAB regulated articles from the quarantine areas must be done in accordance with the regulations promulgated pursuant to the Plant Protection Act found at 7 CFR 301.53 et seq. and any applicable provisions of this Federal Order.

 

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 (CFR) 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 quarantined areas is an especially high-risk pathway for the spread of 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 the long-distance movement of firewood.

 

If you wish more details on the federal EAB regulatory program, you may call EAB National Policy Manager Paul Chaloux at 301-851-2064.

 

We continue to appreciate the cooperative relationship with Illinois and Indiana in our effort to prevent the spread of EAB.