Rhode Island General Laws Title 2. Agriculture and Forestry § 2-17-21. Nuisance

The Asian longhorned beetle, Anoplophora glabripennis, a native insect pest of China, is known to be a serious insect pest to several tree species within the United States, including, but not limited to, maples, willows, poplars, birch, London Plane, and elms. The emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis, also a native insect pest from Asia, is also known to be a serious insect pest to several types of ash trees within the United States, including, but not limited to, green ash, white ash, and black ash. All of the at-risk trees are part of the natural environment of Rhode Island and occur on many of the state's public and private lands, contributing to their value and health. Additionally these insects pose substantive risk to the Rhode Island nursery and landscape industry plant materials and market opportunities. Accordingly, the Asian longhorned beetle and emerald ash borer are hereby declared to be public nuisances, and their suppression is authorized and required. No owner or occupant of an estate infested with either or both nuisances is by reason of that infestation liable to an action, civil or criminal, except to the extent and in the manner and form set forth in §§ 2-17-22 -- 2-17-24.