05-10-1978 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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NEWS RELEASE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR RELEASE Immediate (4- 21 -78) (420 STATE OFFICE BUILDING) (ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA 55155) ( PHONE 612 - 296 - 2856 ) Agriculture Commissioner Bill Walker today announced a quarantine effective Monday, \pril 24, 1978, which severely restricts the movement of elm wood with bark intact within the state. The quarantine prohibits the movement of all elm wood, including elm firewood, into or through any home rule charter or statutory city or any shade tree disease control area in the unincorporated areas of any county. "I am only sorry this was not done years ago. Whether diseased or not," continued '.Ualker, "elm wood with bark Intact cannot be transported from one city to another, from one part of the state to another. This is important because the bark beetles that spread the fungus which causes Dutch elrn disease live under the bark of elm wood. The beetles lay eggs and multiply under the bark. Emerging beetles can carry the spores of the diseasedorganism to healthy elms. This is why It is critical to restrict the movement of wood." The quarantine does provide for the movement of such material in municipalities participating in the state Shade Tree Program. Elm wood with bark intact may be trans- ported within these municipalitt.es if such movement has been specifically approved by city officials and if the wood Is moved in accord with the local shade tree wood disposal or utilization program. "Any elm wood product or material transported within the state in violation of the quarantine may be destroyed or returned to the origin at the owner's expense," Walker said. The Commissioner explained that any common carrier, firm, corporation or Individual that violates the quarantine may be charged with a misdemeanor. "There are those who will say this is a severe penalty," Walker noted, "but many municipalities have worked very hard to control the spread of Dutch elm disease. Millions of dollars have been spent in this endeavor. These programs will be severely undermined if this material is brcught into these municipalities. In some of our cities, the incidence of Dutch elm J1sease is very low. With an aggressive sanitation program, these cities might successfully control the disease. Such programs should not be Jeopardized by the introduction of these elm products or materials." The effective date of this quarantine is Monday, April 24, 1978.