EAB continues to spread

On October 8, the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed the identification of EAB in Fayette and Morgan Counties in West Virginia. Recently, the presence of EAB was also confirmed in Roane County. Previously, APHIS had established quarantine areas only Fayette and Morgan Counties due to the establishment and enforcement of equivalent State quarantines. West Virginia has now rescinded their EAB quarantines. For this reason, APHIS is establishing quarantine for the entire State of West Virginia in order to prevent the spread of EAB to other states.

APHIS is also establishing Milwaukee County in Wisconsin as a quarantine area due to the confirmed identification of EAB. This detection resulted when city public works officials in Franklin, Wisconsin noticed and reported ash trees showing symptoms of EAB infestation. Racine and Waukesha Counties are being established as quarantine areas due to their close proximity to this detection.

Effective immediately, all interstate movement of EAB-regulated articles from West Virginia and Milwaukee, Racine, and Waukesha Counties in Wisconsin must be handled in accordance with the Federal Orders. Specifically, the interstate movement of EAB-host wood and wood products from these counties is regulated, including firewood of all hardwood species, nursery stock, green lumber, waste, compost, and chips of ash species.