[MR] Knife and Sword transport laws

[Isolda de Crosthwaite]

Greetings,

I thought I would chime in with information of a different sort that,
depending on your point of view, could be just as dangerous:  bringing your
own firewood to Pennsic.  Some counties in PA, and elsewhere are dealing
with an infestation of the Emerald Ash Borer, which can do much damage to
the Ash tree populations.  As a result, it is *illegal* to bring your own
firewood of any kind into the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  I will post
below some of the websites, and the order that explains what you can and
can't do.  I hope this helps.

Regards,
Isolda
Mundane Park Ranger



http://www.emeraldashborer.info/

http://ento.psu.edu/extension/trees-shrubs/emerald-ash-borer/EABPAFirewoodQuarantine0707.pdf/view



Order
Under authority of Section 21 of the Plant Pest Act (act of December 16,
1992, P. L. 1228, No. 162)(3 P. S. § 258/21) the Pennsylvania Department of
Agriculture hereby orders the following:

1. The movement of firewood of all types and species into the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania is prohibited. Firewood includes all wood, processed or
unprocessed, coniferous or hardwood, meant for use in a campfire or other
outdoor or indoor fire. This prohibition does not apply to the
transportation of sawlogs, pulpwood or wood chips to facilities for
processing into lumber, paper or manufactured wood products.
Examples of circumstances under which firewood from out-of-state is brought
into this Commonwealth include instances where firewood is transported to
public and private campgrounds by campers, or to sporting events and other
events where travelers camp outdoors; or to activities such as Civil War
reenactments where wood is used for cooking and evening campfires; or as
bulk firewood sold by the truckload or some other volume of measure (cord,
face cord, rick, etc...), or as firewood purchased for indoor residential
use.
2. Kiln-dried, packaged firewood clearly marked with the producer’s name and
address and labeled as “Kiln Dried” and/or USDA Certified are exempt from
the provisions of this quarantine order.
3. Persons found in violation of this quarantine order will face the
potential of summary criminal prosecution and a fine of not more than $300
for each offense, or a civil penalty of up to $20,000, or both.
4. The Department will consult with USDA, other state agencies and the
Pennsylvania State University Cooperative Extension with respect to the most
efficacious measures to survey for and detect ALB, EAB, and other
wood-feeding insects in order to slow the spread or eradicate these pests.
5. This quarantine is effective as of July 2, 2007, and shall remain in
effect until repealed by subsequent order.


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