New law will try to combat emerald ash borer threat

Out-of-state firewood dealers must register

By TIM LANDIS
THE STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER
Posted Jan 02, 2009 @ 07:01 PM

Put another log on the fire. But make sure it’s EAB free — as in emerald ash borer.

Among new laws that took effect Jan. 1 is one intended to combat the spread of the destructive beetle by requiring out-of-state dealers who sell wood in the state to register with the Illinois Department of Agriculture.

“It’s not going to impact the local grocery store, convenience store or gas station, but it most likely will impact the place that they get their firewood,” said Warren Goetsch, manager of the Division of Natural Resources for the agency.

Beetle infestations linked to the deaths of millions of ash trees across the Midwest have been found in 21 Illinois counties, including as close to Springfield as the Bloomington area. The borer was first found in the Midwest in 2002.

The first infection in Illinois was found in the northern portion of the state in 2006.

A quarantine in the counties prohibits removing ash trees, including branches and limbs, from those counties. Last spring, the Department of Agriculture placed nearly 4,700 sticky traps across central and southern Illinois to help detect the beetles.

The owner of a local tree service said it is common for out-of-state dealers to sell in the Springfield area.

“There are a lot of people out of Missouri who come up here all the time,” said Earl Throop with Throop & Son Tree Service. The company also sells firewood but only within Sangamon County, Throop said.

“Anyplace where they’re cutting timber, here’s what happens. The timber jack will go in and take the timber out, then they (firewood dealers) go in and take the tops out of the trees and haul them out of the woods,” said Throop, who added that he believes it will be difficult for state regulator to track out-of-state sales.

“It’s like moonshining,” Throop said.

Goetsch said the state has compliance agreements with more than 700 Illinois companies, including tree nurseries, tree-trimming services and landscapers. Out-of-state dealers also are required to obtain a federal shield notice on wood that certifies it is free of infestation or has been properly treated.

But he agreed it is difficult to tell how many out-of-state companies are selling firewood in Illinois.

“We really don’t have a good figure on the number of entities that might be importing firewood into the state,” Goetsch said. “It’s one of the reasons the General Assembly wanted us to come up with a set of regulations.”

The department also has urged consumers to purchase locally grown and cut firewood.

What the law requires

*Effective Jan. 1, out-of-state dealers who sell firewood in Illinois are required to register annually with the Illinois Department of Agriculture for a fee of $25. Applications are available at www.agr.state.il.us.

*Companies that fail to comply are subject to fines.

*Additional information on the emerald ash borer is available at www.illinoiseab.com.