The Department of Agriculture published notice in the November 23 PA Bulletin announcing the issuance of a Firewood Quarantine Order for firewood from outside the state or traveling through the state unless it is heat-treated to prevent the spread of invasive species under the authority of the Plant Pest Act of 1992.

This order replaces a Firewood Quarantine Order issued in 2010.

The Order points to the Asian Longhorn Beetle (ALB), Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), Spotted Lanternfly (SLF), Sirex Wood Wasp and Bark Beetles as some of these recently detected exotic invasive species that pose a serious threat to the state’s agricultural and forest resources and as a result have been determined to be plant pests and public nuisances under state law.

The economic impact of the hardwoods industry in this Commonwealth is valued at nearly twenty-two billion dollars ($21.8 billion), and more than 2,100 companies employ 60,000 people in this important sector of the Commonwealth's economy.

The industry is a significant economic contributor in virtually every county and is the most significant manufacturing sector in some counties.

Other industries such as horticulture, camping and tourism are impacted by these plant pests.

Movement Of Firewood Major Cause Of Invasive Species Spread

Currently there are no simple means to eradicate these plant pests other than removing and destroying infested trees.

There is no effective insecticidal spray program or prophylactic treatment to protect ash trees from EAB infestation, or other hardwoods from attack by ALB.

In North America, no effective natural enemies are present to suppress populations of these plant pests.

Because eradication costs for these wood-feeding plant pests are extremely high, preventive measures must continue to be employed wherever possible to prevent or delay, or both, the spread of these plant pests in hopes that techniques can be developed to effectively manage them.

Very few regulations are in place to restrict movement of firewood, and yet firewood has been proven to be a major factor in the dissemination and spread of both ALB and EAB.

The proper heat treatment of firewood has been shown to be an effective means of preventing the spread of these plant pests.

Scope Of Quarantine

Quarantine Order applies to all firewood originating from a country, State, Commonwealth or territory outside of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania that is or will be transported into or through or off-loaded in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, or offered, exposed, or held for sale, barter or exchange in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Heat-Treatment

All firewood originating from a area of Pennsylvania under a plant pest quarantine order, and firewood originating from a country, State, Commonwealth or territory outside of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania that is or will be transported into, through or off-loaded in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or is offered, exposed, or held for sale, sold or barter or exchange in or into the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania must be certified and labeled as heat-treated.

Exemptions

There are two exemptions in the Quarantine Order-

-- Firewood harvested from areas of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania not under a Department issued quarantine order for ALB, or other wood-feeding plant pests is exempted from the treatment requirements.

-- The Department may issue an exemption for firewood certified under an existing program utilizing methods recognized and approved by the Department.

Penalties

Persons found in violation of this Quarantine Order will face the potential of summary criminal prosecution and a fine of not more than $300 for each offense, or a civil penalty of up to $20,000, or both, and the imposition of such other penalties and requirements, such as treatment orders and injunctive relief as are allowed under the Act.

Click Here for a copy of the Quarantine Order.

Visit the Department of Agriculture’s Firewood Quarantine webpage.  [This page has not yet been updated with the latest Quarantine Order.]

Questions should be directed to Shane Phillipps, Compliance and Enforcement Specialist at 717-836-3255 or sphilipps@pa.gov.

[Posted: November 22, 2024]

11/25/2024