LANSING, Mich. ?EUR??,,????'??+ To further contain and stop the spread of emerald ash borer (EAB), seven Michigan counties ?EUR??,,????'??? Genesee, Ingham, Jackson, Lapeer, Lenawee, Shiawassee, and St. Clair ?EUR??,,????'??? have been added to the state?EUR??,,????'???s EAB quarantine, according to Dan Wyant, director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA). Under the quarantine, it is illegal to move ash trees, branches, lumber, firewood and other materials unless chipped to one inch in diameter from the included counties. The order, effective immediately, also establishes a one-year moratorium prohibiting the sale and movement of ash nursery stock from, into and within Michigan?EUR??,,????'???s Lower Peninsula, with a full review slated a year from now to determine whether it should be continued; bans the movement of all firewood of any species from the now 13 quarantined counties; and further prohibits the movement of any ash materials, including logs, branches and other items unless chipped to one inch or less, and firewood of any species, from within the core EAB-infested zone to anywhere else in the quarantined area or state. ?EUR??,,????'??Based on survey data and the pattern of EAB ?EUR??,,????'??outliers?EUR??,,????'??? that we have been gathering and reviewing over the past few weeks, these actions were determined necessary and appropriate to stem the spread of this destructive insect and protect its valuable ash resources,?EUR??,,????'?? Wyant said. The emerald ash borer, a destructive exotic beetle from Asia that feeds on ash trees, was discovered in the summer of 2002 in six Southeast Michigan counties: Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne. These six counties were under the original state quarantine and will remain part of the expanded quarantined area. To date, the EAB has killed or damaged almost six million ash trees in this six-county area. Anyone who thinks they have inadvertently moved ash materials or firewood out of the new, expanded quarantined area, or who suspects an ash tree is infested that is outside of the quarantine, should report it immediately via Michigan?EUR??,,????'???s toll-free EAB hotline at 866-325-0023.