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News Release


*For Immediate Release
*September 7, 2023

*Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry Takes Important Steps to Safeguard Forests Against Invasive Threats*

Augusta, Maine - In an effort to safeguard Maine's forests from the advance of invasive pests, the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry has proposed expanding three forest protection quarantines. These  measures aim to curb the spread of the emerald ash borer, European larch canker, and hemlock woolly adelgid, which pose imminent threats to the state's woodlands.

This week State Horticulturist Gary Fish delivered a presentation [ [link removed] ]outlining the rationale behind the proposed changes at public hearing. The public comment period for the proposed changes will remain open until 5:00 PM on September 22, 2023. Comments can be submitted to: Gary Fish, State Horticulturist Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry 28 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0028, or by email at [email protected]. <[email protected]>

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EAB Proposed Quarantine Map Expansion into central Maine [ [link removed] ]

*The proposed changes to the emerald ash borer quarantine*, Chapter 275, are designed to protect Maine's forest and timber resources to slow movement of the emerald ash borer [ [link removed] ] to uninfested parts of the State. The proposal extends the quarantined area in the Northern Aroostook County area and into multiple new counties in southern Maine. These measures help protect over 60% of the ash resource that is still outside the current quarantine areas of Maine. Chapter 275 Proposed Rules Draft (DOCX) [ [link removed] ] / Proposed EAB Quarantine Expansion Map [ [link removed] ]



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ELC Proposed Map [ [link removed] ]

*The adjustments to the European larch canker quarantine*, Chapter 272, extend a state quarantine against the European larch canker to prevent its movement from Hancock, Knox, Lincoln, Sagadahoc, and Waldo Counties and parts of Androscoggin, Cumberland, Penobscot, and Washington counties to other parts of the State to protect Maine's forest and landscape tree resources. The European larch canker is federally regulated, and this rule fulfills the requirement that Maine must have a similar state quarantine in place because the state is partially regulated for European larch canker. Chapter 272 Proposed Rules Draft (PDF) [ [link removed] ] /  Proposed ELC Quarantine Expansion Map [ [link removed] ]



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HWA Proposed Quarantine Map [ [link removed] ]

*The suggested changes to the hemlock woolly adelgid quarantine*, Chapter 266, modify the existing hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) [ [link removed] ] quarantine by extending it to additional counties and Minor Civil Divisions in southern Maine. This expansion is needed because HWA populations were discovered outside the existing quarantine area. Chapter 266 Proposed Rules Draft (PDF) [ [link removed] ] / Proposed HWA Quarantine Expansion Map [ [link removed] ]



Media contact: Jim Britt <[email protected]>

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This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry · 18 Elkins Lane, Harlow Building · Augusta, ME 04333 GovDelivery logo [ [link removed] ]