Clinton County Conservation District Secures Spotted Lanternfly Permit
Clinton County Conservation District Manager, Wade Jodun, recently completed the training required to secure a Spotted Lanternfly permit for the County Conservation District. In February of this year, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture announced that six counties – including Clinton County – had been added to Pennsylvania’s Spotted Lanternfly quarantine zone. A county is placed under quarantine when evidence of a reproducing population of spotted lanternflies, such as an egg mass, is found by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Once under quarantine, the movement of articles that may harbor the insect requires a permit.
Businesses and organizations (including Government agencies) that operate in, or travel through, quarantined counties are required to obtain a spotted lanternfly permit. A permit shows other businesses and states that a company has done its due diligence to avoid transporting the pest to new areas. “The nature of our work puts us in locations where lanternflies are likely to be found,” said Jodun. “These lanternflies can have serious impacts on apple orchards, vineyards, fruit crops, plant nurseries and the timber industry which contribute billions of dollars each year to Pennsylvania’s economy. Securing the permit is our way of doing our part to protect those businesses.” A 2019 economic impact study estimates that, uncontrolled, this insect could cost the state $324 million annually and more than 2,800 jobs.
Pennsylvania’s spotted lanternfly quarantine restrictions apply to several regulated businesses/ products including: (1) Landscaping, remodeling or construction waste; (2) Logs, stumps or any tree or tree part; (3) Firewood of any species; (4) Grapevines for decorative purposes or as nursery stock; (5) Nursery stock; (6) Packing materials such as pots, crates, pallets, etc.; (7) Outdoor household articles including recreational vehicles, tractors and mowers, grills and furniture and their covers, tarps, mobile homes, tile, stone, deck boards, mobile fire pits, any associated equipment and vehicles not stored indoors. Businesses that handle, sell, receive, or ship any of the aforementioned items may require a permit. Failure to secure a permit can result in civil or criminal penalties and fines.
While residents and homeowners are not required to file for permits, they are strongly encouraged to check for insects, or signs of the inspects, at home and on their vehicles to keep spotted lanternflies from spreading.
“The training is free. It is available online and it only took 90 minutes,” said Jodun. “The Conservation District will be teaming with the Department of Agriculture to host permit training in the near future.”
Anyone interested in taking Spotted Lanternfly permit training should call (570-726-3798) or email (Conserve@ClintonCountyPA.gov) the Conservation District. For more information on Spotted Lanternfly or the species that serves as its host such as Tree of Heaven, please call Clinton County Penn State Extension office at 570-726-0022. To report a spotted lanternfly sighting call 1-888-422-3359.
