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Minnesota issues new rules to stop emerald ash borer

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Feb 20, 2012 at 4:05 pm

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - The Minnesota Department of Agriculture has issued new rules meant to stop the spread of the emerald ash borer.

The quarantine covers Hennepin and Ramsey Counties in the Twin Cities and Winona and Houston in the southeast. The rules announced Monday formalize and update an emergency quarantine imposed last year.

Any material that might harbor emerald ash borers - such as firewood, ash logs, ash bark and chips - cannot be moved out of the quarantine area without authorization from the agriculture department, and the material must be treated so there's no risk of spreading the invasive insects.

The green beetles have killed tens of millions of ash trees in 15 states. The biggest risk of spreading them comes from people moving firewood or other ash products harboring their larvae.