The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is inviting Michigan stakeholders to provide comments on a proposed firewood quarantine.

The proposed quarantine would restrict the movement of firewood originating outside the state of Michigan to help prevent the introduction and spread of more than 140 plant pests and diseases that can hitch a ride on untreated firewood. These plant pests and diseases include Asian longhorned beetle, oak wilt, beech bark disease and spotted lanternfly, which are pests that pose a serious threat to Michigan’s forests, agriculture and tourism industries.

A draft copy of the quarantine can be viewed at https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/-/media/Project/Websites/mdard/documents/pesticide-plant-pest/planthealth/DRAFT-Exterior-Firewood-Quarantine.pdf?utm_campaign=firewood+quarantine+comment26&utm_medium=pr&utm_source=govdelivery.

Stakeholders can provide comments through an online survey at https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=h3D71Xc3rUKWaoku9HIl0c8YV5zjfwNBqEZrPtgU4zVUQkxXUDJOWjhOVkVGQVkzMllDSjE4SlVVVi4u&utm_campaign=firewood+quarantine+comment26&utm_medium=pr&utm_source=govdelivery. All comments must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time Monday, Feb. 9.

This input is important and will help ensure that any regulatory changes are well-informed and fit for purpose. After the public comment period, MDARD will review all feedback and decide if any changes need to be made to the proposed quarantine. 

Why is MDARD proposing a quarantine?

The movement of untreated firewood is one of the leading causes of new infestations of invasive forest pests. Unlike nursery stock and other high-risk commodities, firewood is not routinely inspected, making it a significant pathway for pest introduction. Once established, these pests are difficult and costly to eradicate. Moreover, they can cause significant long-term economic and environmental damage.

Michigan’s forests and natural resources are vital to the state’s economy and quality of life. MDARD’s proposed firewood quarantine aims to reduce the risk of pest introduction by:

— Restricting the movement into Michigan of firewood from other states;

— Requiring treatment and certification for firewood entering the state; and

— Establishing clear compliance and enforcement measures.

Firewood entering the United States from other countries is already regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Imported wood of any kind must meet strict treatment standards — typically heat treatment to eliminate pests — and be accompanied by proper certification at the federal level. Similarly, interstate movement of firewood is subject to a patchwork of state and federal regulations, especially in areas with active quarantines for pests such as the spotted lanternfly or spongy moth. However, there is no single federal quarantine that covers all firewood movement across the United States, which is why Michigan is taking action to address gaps and protect local resources from new pest introductions.

What the quarantine would do

The proposed Exterior Firewood Quarantine would regulate the movement of firewood into Michigan to prevent the introduction of more than 140 plant pests and diseases. Here’s what it includes —

Regulated articles: All firewood from outside Michigan, regardless of species or origin.

Exemptions:

— Kiln-dried dimensional lumber;

— Wood chips no larger than 1 inch in any two dimensions;

— Logs or wood destined for immediate processing at sawmills, veneer mills, pulp/paper mills, pellet manufacturers, power plants, composite wood facilities; and

— Wood already processed into the above products before entering Michigan.

Treatment requirements: Firewood entering Michigan must be —

— Heat-treated to a core temperature of 60 degrees Celsius (140 degrees Fahrenheit) for 60 minutes; or

— Treated using other methods approved by MDARD in the quarantine order (e.g., steam, microwave, dielectric heat).

Certification requirements: All treated firewood must be accompanied by a certificate verifying treatment and origin from a state or federal official authorized to verify the treatment and origin of the firewood.

Recordkeeping: Anyone receiving firewood from out-of-state must keep shipping and treatment records for 36 months.

What’s not included: This quarantine does not apply to fuelwood, which is locally sourced, downed wood, for personal home use and not intended for resale. For more on fuelwood, go to the Michigan DNR Fuelwood Page at https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/managing-resources/forestry/fuelwood.

For more information about firewood movement and invasive species in Michigan, go to the Don’t Move Firewood page at https://www.dontmovefirewood.org/?utm_campaign=firewood+quarantine+comment26&utm_medium=pr&utm_source=govdelivery or Michigan’s invasive species page at https://www.michigan.gov/invasives?utm_campaign=firewood+quarantine+comment26&utm_medium=pr&utm_source=govdelivery.