SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – In an effort to minimize the spread of the invasive pest Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), the Illinois Department of Agriculture is reminding public works officials and tree trimming contractors to be conscientious when disposing of debris from recent ice storms.

The department requires any entity providing tree and branch removal within the EAB quarantine area in northeastern Illinois to enter into an EAB compliance agreement. The agreement, which can be found at www.IllinoisEAB.com, specifies the necessary procedures contractors must take to prevent the spread of EAB, an invasive pest whose larvae bore into the trunks of ash trees, cutting off nutrients necessary for the tree’s survival.

"There is a lot of debris around the state from falling limbs and trees from recent storms and it will take quite a bit of time to clean up, but it is imperative that tree companies and public works personnel are aware of how they are disposing of the debris. Not all of these branches and limbs are ash, but the procedure for all hardwoods within the quarantine zone is the same," Warren Goetsch, IDOA bureau chief of Environmental Programs, said.

EAB compliance is urged for all contractors and public works officials around the state, but is required for those within the 18-county quarantine area in northeastern Illinois.

The quarantine prohibits the removal of the following items from regulated areas:

• The emerald ash borer in any living stage of development.
• Ash trees of any size.
• Ash limbs and branches.
• Any cut, non-coniferous firewood.
• Bark from ash trees and wood chips larger than one inch from ash trees.
• Ash logs and lumber with either the bark or the outer one-inch of sapwood, or both, attached.
• Any item made from or containing the wood of the ash tree that is capable of spreading the emerald ash borer.
• Any other article, product or means of conveyance determined by the Illinois Department of Agriculture to present a risk of spreading the beetle infestation.
• waste haulers must cover regulated material from an infested area during transport through EAB flight season, which is from June through August.

Anyone convicted of moving prohibited items from the quarantine area without prior certification by an Illinois Department of Agriculture nursery inspector may be fined up to $500.

First discovered in Illinois in June 2006, EAB has been confirmed in communities within Kane, Cook, LaSalle and DuPage counties. How the beetle arrived in Illinois is unknown, but the department suspects it may have been transported here in contaminated firewood. To avoid the accidental introduction of the beetle to new areas, the department encourages Illinoisans to purchase only locally-grown nursery stock and locally-cut firewood. Anyone who suspects a tree has been infested is urged to contact their county Extension office or their village forester for a consultation.

ILLINOIS EAB QUARANTINE AREA ~ Effective July 19, 2007

1. The entire Counties of Boone, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, LaSalle, McHenry, Putnam, Will and Winnebago;
2. The eastern portion of Ogle County described as follows:
1. bounded on the north by the northern Ogle County line from Meridian Road to the eastern Ogle County line;
2. bounded on the east by the eastern Ogle County line;
3. bounded on the south by the southern Ogle County line from the eastern Ogle County line to Meridian Road; and
4. bounded on the west by Meridian Road or its northern projection from the southern Ogle County line to the northern Ogle County line;
3. The eastern portion of Lee County described as follows:
1. bounded on the north by the northern Lee County line from Meridian Road to the eastern Lee County line;
2. bounded on the east by the eastern Lee County line;
3. bounded on the south by the southern Lee County line from the eastern Lee County line to the southerly projection of Meridian Road; and
4. bounded on the west by Meridian Road or its southerly projection from the northern Lee County line to the southern Lee County line;
4. The eastern portion of Bureau County described as follows:
1. bounded on the north by the northern Bureau County line from Illinois Route 40 to the eastern Bureau County line;
2. bounded on the east by the eastern Bureau County line;
3. bounded on the south by the southern Bureau County line from the eastern Bureau County line to Illinois Route 40; and
4. bounded on the west by Illinois Route 40;
5. The northwestern portion of Livingston County described as follows:
1. bounded on the north by the northern Livingston County line;
2. bounded on the east by Interstate 55 from the northern Livingston County line to the intersection of Interstate 55 and Illinois Route 116;
3. bounded on the south by Illinois Route 116 from the intersection of Interstate 55 and Illinois Route 116 to the western Livingston County line; and
4. bounded on the west by the western Livingston County line.

The emerald ash borer is difficult to detect, especially in newly-infested trees. Citizens should watch for metallic-green beetles about half the diameter of a penny on or near ash trees that are showing signs of disease or stress. Other signs of infestation in ash trees include D-shaped holes in the bark of the trunk or branches and shoots growing from its base. For more information, visit www.IllinoisEAB.com on the internet.