05-28-2009, 11:10 AM
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) revealed four new critical habitat license plate designs today during a ceremony at the Hennepin County deputy registrar's office in Minnetonka.
The new designs feature a showy lady's-slipper, a northern Minnesota fishing scene, a majestic white-tailed buck and a black-capped chickadee. These are the first new critical habitat license plate design options available to Minnesota motorists in seven years.
The four new license plates are now available at all deputy registrar offices statewide, as are the existing loon and white-tailed deer plates, which will continue to be offered.
Motorists who purchase a critical habitat plate make a minimum contribution of $30 to the Reinvest in Minnesota (RIM) program. They are also required to make a minimum contribution of $30 each year to renew the plate. Every dollar generated through the sale of the license plate is matched with private donations of cash or land.
"It has been a long time since we issued a new plate, so to rev up the RIM program, we are giving motorists more ways to show their conservation colors and individual identity," said DNR Commissioner Mark Holsten.
More than 29,000 people participated in two surveys conducted by the DNR earlier this year to gather citizen and stakeholder input about favorite designs. Holsten and Department of Public Safety Commissioner Michael Campion weighed the survey results and accompanying comments when selecting these four designs.
The critical habitat license plate program was created in 1995 to provide additional opportunity for Minnesotans to contribute to conservation. The plates have generated more than $25 million toward the purchase of 7,700 acres of critical habitat, and have helped fund nongame research and surveys, habitat enhancement and educational programs.
To order plates over the phone, or for questions about ordering the critical habitat license plate, call the Department of Public Safety - Driver and Vehicle Services at 651-297-3304.
More information about the new license plates is available online.
The new designs feature a showy lady's-slipper, a northern Minnesota fishing scene, a majestic white-tailed buck and a black-capped chickadee. These are the first new critical habitat license plate design options available to Minnesota motorists in seven years.
The four new license plates are now available at all deputy registrar offices statewide, as are the existing loon and white-tailed deer plates, which will continue to be offered.
Motorists who purchase a critical habitat plate make a minimum contribution of $30 to the Reinvest in Minnesota (RIM) program. They are also required to make a minimum contribution of $30 each year to renew the plate. Every dollar generated through the sale of the license plate is matched with private donations of cash or land.
"It has been a long time since we issued a new plate, so to rev up the RIM program, we are giving motorists more ways to show their conservation colors and individual identity," said DNR Commissioner Mark Holsten.
More than 29,000 people participated in two surveys conducted by the DNR earlier this year to gather citizen and stakeholder input about favorite designs. Holsten and Department of Public Safety Commissioner Michael Campion weighed the survey results and accompanying comments when selecting these four designs.
The critical habitat license plate program was created in 1995 to provide additional opportunity for Minnesotans to contribute to conservation. The plates have generated more than $25 million toward the purchase of 7,700 acres of critical habitat, and have helped fund nongame research and surveys, habitat enhancement and educational programs.
To order plates over the phone, or for questions about ordering the critical habitat license plate, call the Department of Public Safety - Driver and Vehicle Services at 651-297-3304.
More information about the new license plates is available online.