[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2715 Introduced in House (IH)]
107th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2715
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resources
study to evaluate the suitability and feasibility of establishing the
Rim of the Valley Corridor as a unit of the Santa Monica Mountains
National Recreation Area.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
August 2, 2001
Mr. Schiff (for himself, Mr. McKeon, Mr. Berman, Mr. Gallegly, Mr.
Sherman, Ms. Solis, and Mr. Dreier) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resources
study to evaluate the suitability and feasibility of establishing the
Rim of the Valley Corridor as a unit of the Santa Monica Mountains
National Recreation Area.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Rim of the Valley Corridor Study
Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds the following:
(1) The greater Southern California metropolitan region is
the second largest urban concentration in the United States,
with almost one-tenth of the total population of the country,
yet it has one of the lowest ratios of park-and-recreation-
lands-per-thousand-population of any urban area in the country.
Unless action is taken soon, this situation will only become
worse as the region continues to be subjected to intense
growth.
(2) The lack of park, recreation, natural open space, and
habitat protection in close proximity to the greater Southern
California metropolitan region deprives the individuals who
reside there of--
(A) the health and spiritual welfare benefits of
proximity to nature; and
(B) the quantifiable benefits of reduced crime,
lower social tension, and increased educational
opportunities that are associated with the provision of
open space in geographic proximity to and accessible to
urban populations.
(3) The Rim of the Valley Corridor encircling the San
Fernando and La Crescenta valleys provides important scenic,
environmental, recreational, educational, scientific, and
economic assets to the greater Southern California metropolitan
region. These assets are deserving of increased protection so
that they can continue to provide public benefit in the 21st
century and beyond.
(4) The Rim of the Valley Corridor, consisting of parts of
the Santa Monica Mountains, Santa Susanna Mountains, San
Gabriel Mountains, Verdugo Mountains, San Rafael Hills, and
adjacent connector areas to the Los Padres and San Bernardino
National Forests, contains significant examples of--
(A) the world's most endangered habitat area, the
Mediterranean chaparral ecosystem; and
(B) significant examples of separate ecotones
indigenous to the area.
(5) A key element of the Rim of the Valley Corridor is the
escarpment of the San Gabriel Mountains that is largely
contained within the Angeles National Forest. That national
forest is primarily managed for watershed, recreational, and
habitat values and not for commercial exploitation of forest
resources.
(6) Privately owned lands within the Rim of the Valley
Corridor are critical to providing additional scenic,
environmental, recreational, and open space values. These lands
should be brought within public protection through the use of
voluntary incentives, respecting at all times the legitimate
private property values of existing property owners.
(7) The State of California has adopted the Rim of the
Valley Master Plan, and local governments within the Rim of the
Valley Corridor have made significant progress toward
protecting the unique natural and recreational resources of the
area. However, these efforts have been hampered by a lack of
financial resources, technical assistance, and resource
management expertise that can be provided by the Federal
Government.
SEC. 3. STUDY OF RIM OF THE VALLEY CORRIDOR FOR ESTABLISHMENT AS UNIT
OF THE SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS NATIONAL RECREATION AREA.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of the Interior shall conduct a
special resource study of the lands, waters, and interests of the area
comprising the Rim of the Valley Corridor in Southern California, as
depicted on the maps on file on June 15, 2001, in the office of the
Secretary of the State of California pursuant to Division 23 of the
California Public Resources Code (section 33000 et seq.).
(b) Study Topics.--The study shall evaluate the national
significance of the area and the suitability and feasibility of
establishing it as a unit of the Santa Monica Mountains National
Recreation Area of the National Park System.
(c) Criteria.--In conducting the study authorized by this section,
the Secretary shall use the criteria for the study of areas for
potential inclusion in the National Park System contained in section 8
of Public Law 91-383 (16 U.S.C. 1a-5).
(d) Consultation.--In conducting the study authorized by this
section, the Secretary shall regularly consult with the Rim of the
Valley Corridor and Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
Advisory Committee established by section 4.
SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
(a) Establishment.--There is established the Rim of the Valley
Corridor and Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area Advisory
Committee (in this section referred to as the ``Committee'').
(b) Recommendation of Boundaries for Expanded Recreation Area.--
(1) In general.--The Committee shall--
(A) advise the Secretary of the Interior regarding
the conduct of the study under section 3; and
(B) recommend to the Secretary of the Interior
boundaries for a Santa Monica Mountains and Rim of the
Valley National Recreation Area.
(2) Boundary requirements.--The boundaries recommended by
the Committee shall--
(A) reflect the boundaries of the Santa Monica
Mountains National Recreation Area, as in effect on the
date of the enactment of this Act; and
(B) generally include the lands, waters, and
interests comprising the Rim of the Valley Corridor as
depicted on the maps as on file on June 15, 2001, in
the office of the Secretary of the State of California
pursuant to Division 23 of the California Public
Resources Code (section 33000 et seq.).
(3) Submission.--The Committee shall--
(A) submit a recommendation to the Secretary of the
Interior under this subsection within 365 days after
the first meeting of the Committee; and
(B) include in the recommendation maps depicting
the boundaries proposed for a Santa Monica Mountains
and Rim of the Valley National Recreation Area.
(4) Public participation.--The Committee shall provide
opportunities for public participation in and comment on the
recommendation of boundaries under this subsection.
(c) Membership.--The Committee consists of 24 members appointed by
the Secretary of the Interior, as follows:
(1) 17 representatives of local governments having
jurisdiction over areas in the vicinity of the recreation area,
of whom one shall be nominated by each of--
(A) the mayor of the city of Los Angeles;
(B) the board of supervisors of the county of Los
Angeles;
(C) the board of supervisors of the county of
Ventura;
(D) the city council of the city of Thousand Oaks;
(E) the city council of the city of Agoura Hills;
(F) the city council of the city of Westlake
Village;
(G) the city council of the city of Malibu;
(H) the city council of the city of Calabasas;
(I) the city council of the city of Burbank;
(J) the city council of the city of Glendale;
(K) the city council of the city of La Canada-
Flintridge;
(L) the city council of the city of Pasadena;
(M) the city council of the city of Sierra Madre;
(N) the city council of the city of South Pasadena;
(O) the city council of the city of Santa Clarita;
(P) the city council of the city of Moorpark; and
(Q) the board of supervisors of Los Angeles county
to represent the unincorporated communities within the
jurisdiction of the East Rim of the Valley Trail
Corridor, after consultation with the Town Council of
Altadena and the Crescenta Valley Town Council.
(2) The Superintendent of the Santa Monica Mountains
National Recreation Area, or a designee of such Superintendent.
(3) The Supervisor of the Angeles National Forest, or a
designee of such Supervisor.
(4) The Superintendent of the Angeles District of the State
of California Department of Parks and Recreation, or a designee
of such Superintendent.
(5) The Director of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy,
or a designee of such Director.
(6) One representative of the Rancho Simi Recreation and
Park District, nominated by the Board of Directors of such
district.
(7) One representative of the Conejo Recreation and Park
District, nominated by the Board of Directors of such district.
(8) One representative of the Pleasant Valley Recreation
and Park District, nominated by the Board of Directors of such
district.
(d) Chairperson and Vice Chairperson.--The Committee shall select
from among its members a chairperson and a vice chairperson.
(e) Compensation and Expenses.--The members of the Committee shall
serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed by the Secretary of
the Interior for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of
their duties.
(f) Quorum.--13 members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum
for the transaction of any business.
(g) Termination.--The Committee shall terminate upon the submittal
by the Secretary of the special resources study under section 3 to the
Congress.
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