R68-23-7. Importation and Treatment

  (1) All firewood shall be prohibited entry into Utah from an area under quarantine unless the required certification is produced.

  (2) Certification shall be issued by an authorized state agricultural official of the state of origin.

  (3) The certificate shall bear the:

  (a) name and address of the exporter of the firewood:

  (b) name and address of the importer of the firewood;

  (c) inspection/certificate date; and

  (d) signature of authorized state agricultural officer.

  (4) Such certificates shall be issued only if the shipment conforms to the heat treatment procedure listed below:

  (a) the temperature of the center of the wood is raised to at least 160 deg F (71.1 deg C);

  (b) the center temperature is maintained at 160 deg F (71.1 deg C) for at least 75 minutes;

  (c) internal wood temperatures are obtained and verified by sensors located in the larger pieces of firewood at representative locations within the stack;

  (d) sensors are placed in large firewood pieces in the coldest areas of the kiln as identified by the department;

  (e) the full depth of the monitoring probes are placed in the wood;

  (f) monitoring probes are sealed within the wood by a gasket, non-hardening putty, or similar material to prevent the probe reading ambient air temperature rather than the temperature of the wood;

  (g) temperature monitoring equipment must be able to provide a record of the treatment that identifies each sensor and indicates time and temperature; and

  (h) portable, stand-alone sensors, the temperature monitoring equipment (thermocouples, temperature data loggers, etc.) must be:

  (i) accurate to within +/- 0.9 deg F (0.5 deg C) at the treatment temperature,

  (ii) capable of collecting temperature data at least once every five (5) minutes; and

  (iii) capable of recording or storing data for 30 days.

  (5) The certifying official shall mail, FAX or e-mail a copy of the certificate to Director, Plant Industry Division, Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, 350 North Redwood Road, PO Box 146500, Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-6500, FAX: [phone],e-mail: [e-mail].

  (6) The exporter shall give advance notification of regulated firewood shipment to the department.

  (7) The importer shall notify the department of the arrival of firewood imported under the provisions of this quarantine and shall hold such firewood for inspection.

  (8) The department shall inspect or release the firewood within in 10 business days of delivery.