An Act To Regulate the Transportation of Firewood
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 1607
Sponsors: McCABE, GOODALL'of Sagadahoc, HAYES, KENT, MARTIN, O'BRIEN, SMITH, STUCKEY

Legislative Document 
No. 1607 
H.P. 1135 
House of Representatives, December 23,2009 
An Act To Regulate the Transportation of Firewood 
(EMERGENCY) 
Approved for introdLlction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203. 
Received by the Clerk of the House on December 21,2009. Referred to the Committee on 
Agriculture, Conservation and Forestl:y pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed 
pursuant to Joint Rule 401. 
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Presented by Representative McCABE of Skowhegan. 
Cosponsored by Senator GOODALL'of Sagadahoc and 
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1h.1lldC~{ 
MILLICENT IvI. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Representatives: HAYES of Buckfield, KENT of Woolwich, MARTIN of Eagle Lake, 
MITCHELL oftbe Penobscot Nation, O'BRIEN of Lincoln ville, SMITH of Monmouth, 
STUCKEY of Portland . 
Primed nn rreydell p.lpel' 
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Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, the emerald ash borer and the Asian longhorned beetle have the potential 
to decimate Maine's forests, affecting wildlife habitat and other forest-based resources; 
and 
Whereas, introduction of these insect pests poses a threat to tree species of 
commercial value; and 
Whereas, the Asian longhorned beetle is now present in 3 rio'rtheastern states and 
the emerald ash borer has killed millions of ash trees in the midwestern United States and 
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is now present in Pennsylvania; and 
Whereas, the next camping season wi II begin in June 2010, and many campers 
come to Maine bringing firewood from their home states; and 
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Whereas, in thej~dgment oft1 ~ Legislature, these facts create an emergencywithin 
the meaning of the Constitution )f Maine and require the following legislation as 
.immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore, 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 12 MRS A §8307 IS enacted to read: 
§8307. Prohibition on bringing firewood into State 
A person may not transport firewood into the State except for firewood that is 
packaged and clearly labeled as "kiln dried" or certified by the United States Department 
of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. The director of the bureau 
may adopt rules to implement this section. Rules adopted pursuant to this section 'are 
routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. For purposes of 
this section, "firewood" means wood less than 4 feet in length that is sold or transported 
for residential or recreational consumption in fireplaces, woodstoves, outdoor fireplaces 
or campfires. "Firewood" does not include wood chips, wood pellets, fuel for biomass 
boilers, pUlpwood or other wood sold or transported for manufacturing. 
Sec. 2. 
Directives to Jhe Department of Conservation. 
Within the 
Department of Conservation, the Director of the Bureau of Forestry shall work closely 
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with the Director of the Bureau of Parks and Lands to ensure that the prohibition on the 
transportation of firewood into the State under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 12, 
section 8307 is enforced in state parks and on other lands managed by the Bureau of 
Parks and Lands. Within existing resources, the Director of the Bureau of Forestry shall , 
conduct surveillance to detect the presence of the emerald ash borer and the Asian 
longhorned beetle. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
Page J - 124LR2099(OIH 
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SUMMARY 
THis bill prohibits the transportation of firewood into the State. The Director of the 
Bureau of Forestry within the Department of Conservation 'is authorized to use 
rulemaking to implement the prohibition. Firewood that is packaged and clearly labeled 
as "kiln dried" or certified by the United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and 
Plant Health Inspection Service is exempt from the prohibition. This bill also requires the 
director to use available resources to conduct surveillance to detect the presence of the 
emerald ash borer and the Asian longhorned beetle.