Monday, February 14, 2011

Oregon bill targets firewood pests

Officials want to ensure that ruinous insects aren’t inadvertently imported into the state
By David Steves

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SALEM — One way to keep forest-ravaging insects and diseases from hitching a ride into Oregon is to make sure they don’t hide out in firewood brought by out-of-state campers.

That’s the idea behind a proposal that got its first hearing Monday. House Bill 2122 would give the Department of Agriculture authority to regulate out-of-state firewood. Imported wood would have to be treated, most likely with insect- and disease-killing heat. Labels on commercial firewood would have to list the source of the wood and describe its anti-pest treatment if it’s from outside Oregon.

The Register-Guard
Published: Tuesday, Feb 8, 2011 05:01AM

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