APHIS Removes Protected Area Status for emerald ash borer (EAB) from 8 Counties in Illinois

FOR INFORMATION AND ACTION

DA-2014-11

March 7, 2014

 

 

Subject:           APHIS Removes Protected Area Status for Eight Counties in Illinois 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 emerald ash borer (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).

 

The attached Federal Order outlines specific conditions for the interstate movement of EAB-regulated articles from these counties to prevent the spread of EAB to non-infested areas. Specifically, APHIS considers contiguous regulatory areas that cross state borders, and are not associated with the remaining protected areas in Illinois and Indiana, as a single regulated area. The movement of regulated articles to the remaining protected areas in Illinois and Indiana require a limited permit or federal certificate. The list of these protected areas is attached to the Federal Order. In addition, APHIS will continue to require limited permits or federal certificates to move regulated articles out of EAB regulated areas to non-infested areas of the United States. In addition, companies and individuals should check for and follow any relevant state EAB quarantine regulations.

 

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.

 

For additional information regarding the EAB program and Federal EAB regulations, please call EAB National Policy Manager Paul Chaloux at 301-851-2064.

 

/s/

 

Osama El-Lissy

Deputy Administrator

Plant Protection and Quarantine