This map by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry shows the locations where the emerald ash borer has been detected in and around Maine. (Courtesy of Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry)
AUGUSTA, Maine — The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry’s (DACF) Maine Forest Service is working on an emergency order to stop movement of ash in response to the detection of emerald ash borer (EAB) in Frenchville and Madawaska in Aroostook County, and still seeks public feedback on the issue.
Forest Service officials said in a press release that the emergency order will be issued within the next two weeks, likely by early August, and additional feedback should be received by July 25.
The department held a public meeting in Frenchville on June 18 to provide information to the businesses, residents and towns immediately affected by the discovery of EAB in Maine, and subsequently issued a letter to attendees and stakeholders summarizing happenings since the meeting.
The DACF has also posted preliminary FAQs regarding the order on its emerald ash borer website.
Send feedback to: Allison Kanoti, acting state entomologist with the Forest Service, at allison.m.kanoti@maine.gov, by phone at (207) 827-1813, or via mail at PO Box 415, Old Town ME, 04468; or Gary Fish, state horticulturist, state plant regulatory official, Plant Health, at gary.fish@maine.gov, or by mail at 28 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333.
Officials will seek additional, more formal public input during the process of setting up federal quarantines, and will also discuss parallel state and federal quarantines.
