[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced legislation to help municipalities defray the costs of performing Emerald Ash Borer management activities normally performed by the federal government.  Management activities include managing the EAB population by surveying trees, removing infested trees and replacing removed trees.

“It has been just over a year since the first Illinois case of Emerald Ash Borer was found in Kane County. Since then, the infestation has worsened,” said Durbin.  “With over 131 million ash trees in Illinois, it’s crucial that we reverse this trend.  The legislation that we introduced today will make the funds available for communities to get ahead of this problem.”

The Emerald Ash Borer is a bright green beetle that kills trees by burrowing into their bark and destroying the trees’ ability to bring water from the roots to upper branches. Infected trees usually begin to die within two to three years.

The current federal program does not reimburse municipalities for expenses related to EAB prevention.  While states are able to contract with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, for cost-sharing assistance, the funding does not reach the municipal level.  States are not directed to enter into cooperative funding agreements with local governments.

Durbin's bill, the Emerald Ash Borer Municipality Assistance Act of 2007, will create a low-interest revolving loan fund for communities for the purchase of capital equipment and replacement trees to perform duties on municipal government land within quarantine areas. Communities would have a 20-year window to repay the loan.  In addition, the bill would allow states to contract with local units of government to perform EAB duties.

On June 13th, immediately following the first sighting of the ash borer in Illinois, Durbin called on the USDA to develop a plan to curb the spread of this pest. Later that month, Durbin helped secure $1.5 million to combat and prevent the spread of the Emerald Ash Borer. Durbin also sent a letter late last summer urging that certain affected locations in Illinois be declared federal emergency quarantine areas so that they can apply for low interest emergency loans to help eradicate the Emerald Ash Borer.  Most recently, Durbin announced a $100,000 USDA Forest Service grant to the Illinois Emerald Ash Borer Wood Utilization Team.

Today’s legislation is cosponsored by Senators Barack Obama (D-IL), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Carl Levin (D-MI), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Ben Cardin (D-MD).