Options for Disposal of Debris from Trees and Plants inside the ALB Quarantine Area of Tate Township

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Options for Disposal of Debris from Trees and Plants inside
the ALB Quarantine Area of Tate Township

REYNOLDSBURG, OH (Mar. 8, 2012) – The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) are informing property owners within the Asian Longhorned Beetle quarantined areas of Tate Township of their options for disposal of storm damaged woody debris.

• The USDA/Ohio Department of Agriculture Marshalling Yard located at 2896 State Route 232 Bethel, Ohio will be accepting woody debris daily from 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM until further notice. The Marshalling Yard will only accept woody debris from trees. Construction debris or mixed waste will not be accepted.

• Woody debris can be cut in any length and burned on site. Before burning, residents must first contact the Bethel-Tate Fire Department at 513-734-4444 to obtain verbal permission to burn in areas impacted by the storm. Debris cut into firewood cannot leave Tate Township. Firewood is defined as wood cut in lengths of 4 feet or less and all species are under quarantine.

• Woody debris can also be chipped on site, however the material is quarantined and cannot leave Tate Township unless chipped by an operation under a compliance agreement with the ALB eradication program.

• Non ALB host species wood may be cut into logs greater than 4 feet in length and may leave the quarantine area. All parties involved in the logging operation must be under a compliance agreement with the ALB eradication program. Prior to conducting any logging operations please contact the ALB Program Office at (513) 381-7180 for compliance assistance.

The ALB quarantine restricts the movement of hardwood logs, firewood, stumps, roots and branches out of the regulated area and also restricts the sale of nursery stock, green lumber, and logs of the following trees: maples, horse chestnut, buckeye, mimosa, birch, hackberry, ash, golden raintree, katsura, sycamore, poplar, willow, mountain ash, and elms.

Residents in the area are encouraged to contact the ALB Program Office at (513) 381-7180 with any questions they might have in regards to woody debris disposal.

-30-

Media Contact: Brett Gates, Public Information Officer, 614-752-9712