The Environmental Assessment (EA) regarding eradication activities for the Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) from the Clermont County area is now available for comment. Individuals can access the document through the following link: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/ea/alb.shtml. Or copies of the document can be obtained by contacting Dr. Brendon Reardon at Brendon.Reardon@aphis.usda.gov or at 4700 River Road, Unit 26, Riverdale, MD 20737. The USDA/Ohio Department of Agriculture Marshalling Yard located at 2896 State Route 232 Bethel, Ohio is accepting woody debris daily Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. The Marshalling Yard will only accept woody debris from trees. Construction debris or mixed waste will not be accepted. Chips are available for residents of Tate Township for personal use. The first Saturday of every month, chips are available without an appointment from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m., and the removal contractor will be available to load personal trucks during this time. Pick up on other Saturdays will be by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, call 513-381-7180. The vehicle used for transporting chips should be no larger than a light duty truck, no mechanized equipment. Residents will need proof of residency for Tate Township, such as a driver’s license, state ID card, voter registration card or utility bill. Residents must check]in at the tower with officials upon arrival.
Infested tree removals in Clermont County began on November 14, 2011. During removal operations, program personnel are on]site to oversee the contractors at all times. There is no cost to homeowners for removal of infested trees, including filling of stump holes and grass reseeding. Tree removals will not take place without prior notification of the property owner. The removal contractor, Young’s General Contracting Inc., is working directly with property owners to address any concerns or special circumstances. Property owners are asked to communicate any concerns with the contractor in advance of tree removal work being conducted by calling (573) 785]1501. Ground and tree]climbing survey crews continue to conduct delimiting surveys, inspecting all host trees throughout the regulated areas in Clermont County. Staff survey for the presence of ALB by examining individual host trees for signs of beetle damage.
The following numbers pertain to the infested tree removals and surveys currently being conducted: - 7,011--The number of ALB infested trees removed as of 4/28/12 (since removals starting on 11/14/11)
7,923--The number of ALB infested trees confirmed as of 4/28/12 (since detection on 6/17/11)
107,812--The number of trees surveyed as of 4/28/12 (since surveys began on 7/1/11)
56 Square miles under regulation; see “Regulated Area” map: http://www.agri.ohio.gov/TopNews/asianbeetle/docs/ALB_quarantine_map.pdf
In the event of inclement weather, surveys and infested tree removals may be delayed or cancelled.
The 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. Program staff continue to monitor regulated areas, respond to service calls and conduct training sessions for compliance agreements.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) began removing trees infested with the Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) the week of November 14, 2011. During removal operations, program personnel will be onsite to oversee the contractors at all times. There will be no cost to the homeowners for removal of infested trees. Tree removals will not take place without prior notification to the property owner. The program will work directly with property owners to address any concerns or special circumstances. Residents can report suspected Asian longhorned beetles by calling 1-855-252-6450 or by going online to www.BeetleBusters.info.
Because of the discovery of the ALB, the state of Ohio is restricting the movement of ALB host material and all hardwood firewood out of Tate Township and East Fork State Park. That means that it is illegal to move regulated logs, firewood, stumps, roots, or branches, and any life stage of the beetle, out of those two areas.
The USDA stresses that local homeowners will not incur costs for the removal of infested trees by the state or federal government. Click here for reporting information, additional information about the ALB, and to view video on how the beetle was discovered locally, and how the USDA is responding.