Why is the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) destroying healthy ash trees on private property and how did they get the right to do that?

Updated April 2, 2005

They believe that destroying all ash trees within certain distances of where the EAB is found will stop its spread. In December of 2003 the MDA issued a "Determination of Host Plant Nuisance and Proposed Eradication Measures, Notice of Public Hearing."

In January of 2004 the MDA held public hearings, they received a total of 44 comments (see PDF), and on February 9, 2004 Dan Wyant, Director of the MDA issued the "Determination of Ash Host Plant Nuisance and Public Notice of Proposed Eradication Measures, results of Public Hearing." (see PDF). Part of that document says "WHEREAS, the Director having determined that the ash tree is a host plant nuisance as defined in section 18 of Act 189 of 1931 which should be eradicated from this state where necessary to contain the spread of the emerald ash borer to safeguard other plants and plant products of the state consistent with the Emerald Ash Borer Eradication Strategy; . ."

Finding the ash tree to be a host plant nuisance is what gives the MDA the power to eradicate ash trees. They have determined that the ash tree is the nuisance and should be eradicated. It just didn't make sense to us. Why destroy perfectly healthy ash trees if that is exactly the plant you are trying to protect? We should be destroying the bugs, not the trees.