Emerald Ash Borer informational meeting

RANDOLPH, N.Y. Press release - In cooperation with Cornell Cooperative Extension, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will hold an informational public meeting regarding the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) on Tuesday, July 14, at 7 p.m. in Randolph, Cattaraugus County – site of the first detection of the EAB in the state.

The meeting will take place at the Randolph Fire Hall, located at 70 Main Street in Randolph, Cattaraugus County. Please note that the fire hall is located behind the Randolph Municipal Building at 72 Main Street.

The EAB is a small but destructive beetle that infests and kills North American ash tree species, including green, white, black and blue ash. A multi-agency effort is underway to address the EAB infestation and includes partners from the state Department of Agriculture and Markets; U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal Plant Health Inspection
Service (APHIS); the United States Forest Service; the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation; the State Emergency Management Office; state Department of Transportation; Cornell Cooperative Extension; and the Seneca Nation.

At the upcoming meeting, DEC and Cooperative Extension forestry experts will be present to share information and answer questions on the EAB. The meeting will offer area residents an opportunity to learn more about the EAB, what actions individuals and communities can take to help reduce the spread and minimize economic impacts of the EAB, and the ongoing efforts in place to address the current EAB infestation. Anyone interested is welcome and encouraged to attend the meeting.

Additional information on EAB can be found online at: www.nyis.info, www.emeraldashborer.info , www.PurpleEABsurvey.info, and http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7253.html .