Smokinlicious® Smoking Wood Tips

Log truck from the forest under New York State Wood Regulations

In 2009, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation made regulations on the movement of wood, specifically, firewood. The goal? To stop people from traveling into the state with firewood that could bring unwanted bugs and disease.

Why Should You Be Concerned?

So, why the big concern? Firstly, because wood may be hiding the eggs, larvae, spores, adults, or even seeds of invasive threats. Think bugs that love to eat wood and kill our spectacular mountain ranges!

Secondly, some of these pests can kill an entire woodland area quickly. Think the Emerald Ash Borer bug!

Almost every native New York tree species is susceptible to attack by one or more exotic pests. Some of these insects and diseases are already known to be in parts of New York. How do they get here? By hitching a ride from out-of-state travelers who bring their own firewood.

What Lurks Within Different Woods?

Take a look at the list of pests and the trees they love to devour:

• Asian loghorned beetle – maple, birch, ash, sycamore, poplar, willow, elm, hackberry, mountain ash, horsechestnut
• Oak wilt – oak, especially red oak
• Emerald ash borer – all ash species (white, black, green)
• Asian gypsy moth – over 500 hosts including oak, basswood, birch, poplar, alder, willow, larch, hemlock, pine, and spruce
• Light brown apple moth – apple, oak, pine, poplar, walnut
• Brown spruce longhorned beetle – spruce

What does the New York State Wood Regulations Include:

• You can’t bring untreated firewood into New York State from another state.

• Only wood that has a certificate attached can enter. The certificate states the firewood meets the regulations of New York State.

• The firewood has to be labeled with: the producer’s name, legal address, bill of sale or purchase receipt.

• Did you find firewood in New York State to purchase? Great! It still can ONLY be transported within 50 miles from the producer’s location. It also has to show it has been heat-treated to 71° C (160° F) for 75 minutes..

• You can move firewood for personal use but only if you complete a Self-Issued Certificate of Origin. The Self-Issued Certificate of Origin is available at https: //www.dec.ny.gov/docs/lands_forests_pdf/selfisscert.pdf or at regional office locations. The 50-mile restriction from the source still applies!

Finally Tips When You Travel with Wood

Source, origin, or heat treatment documentation have to be kept with you when you travel with the firewood. You can throw those documents away once the firewood has arrived at its destination. If you plan to move firewood to multiple sites, keep the receipts until the firewood is used up. You don’t have to do this for firewood that is used on the same property from where it is cut, unless it is transported on public roads from one area of the property to another.

Several states have imposed regulations on the movement and/or importation of firewood. Regulations are in Pennsylvania, Vermont, Maine, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and Maryland. If you plan travel to and campfire make in these states, be sure to check on the specific limitations before you go.

What Happens If You’re Caught?

Any law enforcement officer can enforce this regulation. That includes NYSDEC Environmental Conservation Officers, NYSDEC Forest Rangers, NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Park Police, NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets Horticultural Inspectors, and any other state, county, or local police officer. Violations are subject to a $250 fine, plus a $100 civil penalty and up to 15 days in jail.

We actively monitor the wood regulations to be sure you are in the know. The good news is, when you order products from SmokinLicious® there’s no need to worry about all this. We possess the required procedures and documentation to keep you protected. We are commitment to preserving not just New York’s natural hardwood forests, but all of North America’s!

Footnote: SmokinLicious® sources all our wood products (wood chips, wood chunks, logs, smoking dust & Charwood) with suppliers under the Forest Stewardship Council®. FSC is a world wide forest management certification program. It confirms that the forest is being managed in a way that preserves biological diversity and benefits the lives of local people and workers, while ensuring it sustains economic viability.

Dr. Smoke- SmokinLicious® exceeds the New York State Wood Regulations! We go to a much Hotter phytosanitary temperature to insure maximum protection of our treasured forest & wood products.

New York State Wood Regulations are in place to protect and preserve this important renewable resource. For more reading on this issue, check out these articles:

Thermal Wood Heating Process- Our Standard!

Wood Safety & Our Efforts to Protect You!

Cooking Wood- What You Should Know!