Ash borer insect endangers billions of trees

An ash alert sign attached to a green ash tree at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio highlights hazards of transporting firewood and dangers posed by the emerald ash borer. Employees across the base assisted the 88th Air Base Wing Environmental Management Division in marking trees as part of a statewide effort to raise awareness during Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week May 20-26. The Buckeye state is home to 5 billion ash trees. About 10 percent of the state's entire tree population are threatened by the exotic insect. (Michael Schumacher/U.S. Air Force)

Base joins Emerald Ash Borer awareness effort

Jackie Knueve and Giles Poole of the Air Force Research Laboratory Propulsion Directorate apply ash alert signs to a green ash tree at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Employees across the base assisted the 88th Air Base Wing Environmental Management Division in marking trees as part of a statewide effort to raise awareness during Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week May 20-26. The Buckeye state is home to 5 billion ash trees threatened by the exotic insect. (Michael Schumacher/U.S. Air Force)

Base imposes strict policies to stop Emerald Ash Borer

Published Aug. 29, 2007
By Derek Kaufman
88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- Base officials have imposed strict policies restricting movement of any firewood on and off base property in an effort to help arrest the spread of the destructive Emerald Ash Borer in southwest Ohio.

The action builds upon ongoing base ash borer awareness efforts and follows the discovery of the insect by Ohio Department of Agriculture officials in an ash tree near a Huber Heights home July 2.

This discovery in Montgomery County, along with an infestation in Butler County, brings the total number of counties in Ohio under Emerald Ash Borer quarantine to thirty-one, said Susan Dilworth, natural resources technician with the 88th Air Base Wing Environmental Management Division.

"In the immediate area around Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, five contiguous counties -- Miami, Montgomery, Warren, Butler and Hamilton -- are currently under the Ohio Emerald Ash Borer Quarantine," Dilworth said.

The USDA has also issued an Emerald Ash Borer quarantine for the entire state of Ohio. Both quarantines regulate the movement of all ash tree materials and also limit the movement of all non-coniferous firewood. Officials estimate 10 percent of the entire Ohio tree population is threatened by the exotic pest.

Since portions of Wright-Patterson are within Montgomery County, base environmental officials now expressly prohibit movement of any firewood or bark onto base property. Also no firewood or wood with bark shall be removed from Area B.

Firewood from on-base sources will be available at the base Boy Scout camp for use only on-base.

Penalties for moving firewood out of quarantined Ohio counties can be up to $4000 and up to $250,000 for moving firewood out of Ohio under the federal USDA quarantine, Dilworth said.

"These are serious penalties, but we recognize they are necessary to help slow the spread," she said, acknowledging additional base restrictions are likely if the Emerald Ash Borer is discovered in Greene County.

Given the scope and speed of infestation in the region, the best advice is to avoid movement of any firewood on or off base, or across any county lines, Dilworth added.

Base residents and employees seeking further information on ash borer restrictions can call Susan Dilworth at 257-7454.