[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 77 (Wednesday, June 6, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H2899-H2900]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS NATIONAL RECREATION AREA BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT ACT
Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules
and pass the bill (H.R. 640) to adjust the boundaries of Santa Monica
Mountains National Recreation Area, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 640
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 ``Santa Monica Mountains
National Recreation Area Boundary Adjustment Act''.
SEC. 2. BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT.
Section 507(c) of the National Parks and Recreation Act of
1978 (92 Stat. 3501; 16 U.S.C. 460kk) establishing Santa
Monica Mountains National Recreation Area is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking `` `Boundary Map, Santa
Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, California, and
Santa Monica Mountains Zone', numbered SMM-NRA 80,000, and
dated May 1978'' and inserting `` `Santa Monica Mountains
National Recreation Area and Santa Monica Mountains Zone,
California, Boundary Map', numbered 80,047, and dated
February 2001''; and
(2) by adding the following sentence after the third
sentence of paragraph (2)(A): ``Lands within the `Wildlife
Corridor Expansion Zone' identified on the boundary map
referred to in paragraph (1) may be acquired only by donation
or with donated funds.''.
SEC. 3. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.
Section 507 of the National Parks and Recreation Act of
1978 (92 Stat. 3501; 16 U.S.C. 460kk) establishing Santa
Monica Mountains National Recreation Area is amended--
(1) in subsection (c)(1), by striking ``Committee on
Natural Resources'' and inserting ``Committee on Resources'';
(2) in subsection (c)(2)(B), by striking ``of certain'' in
the first sentence and inserting ``certain''; and
(3) in subsection (n)(5), by striking ``laws'' in the
second sentence and inserting ``laws,''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
North Carolina (Mr. Jones) and the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands
(Mrs. Christensen) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Jones).
Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as
I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 640, introduced by the gentleman from California
(Mr. Gallegly), would adjust the boundary of the Santa Monica Mountains
National Recreation area by adding 3,700 acres of public and private
lands to enhance a wildlife corridor and protect a key watershed
between the Simi Hills and the Santa Monica Mountains across the 101
Freeway in Southern California.
Most of the acreage that would be added to the National Recreation
Area will be transferred from the Santa Monica Mountain Conservancy, a
State agency, to the National Park Service. The balance of land will
include developed residential areas from within the cities of Saratoga
Hills and Agoura Hills, as well as land from the County of Los Angeles.
Unlike many park units where lands within the authorized boundaries
are almost entirely in Federal ownership, there exists an extremely
complex mosaic of publicly- and privately-owned lands within the Santa
Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.
The superintendent of the National Recreation Area assured members of
the Committee on Resources that the National Park Service has not and
will not regulate land use on private or non-Federal lands within the
park boundary.
The bill is supported by the majority and the minority and the
administration. At the proper time, I urge an aye vote on this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
includes more than 150,000 acres between Los Angeles and the Pacific
Coast. It is the largest urban unit of the National Park System,
including five area codes and 26 zip codes.
H.R. 640 would adjust the boundary of the recreation area to include
an additional 3,697 acres. The purpose of the addition is to facilitate
wildlife migration between the Santa Monica Mountains and several
mountain regions in the north. Some have expressed concern that the
addition of this acreage would place a number of parcels of private
property within the boundary of NRA. It should be noted that such
concerns are completely unwarranted since inclusion of private property
within a federally-designated boundary does not alter the owner's
private property rights in any way.
In this particular instance, the relevant property owners are aware
of the proposed boundary change and no opposition to the measure has
developed. This is not surprising, given that the area last operated
smoothly for years with thousands of private property owners living
within the boundaries.
We join our colleagues and the administration in supporting this
legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the
gentleman from California (Mr. Gallegly), the sponsor of this
legislation.
(Mr. GALLEGLY asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my good friend, the
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Jones), for giving me the time this
morning. I would also like to thank the chairman of the Committee on
Resources, the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen), for moving H.R. 640
through the committee and placing it on the schedule this morning.
Mr. Speaker, the Santa Monica Mountains Recreation Area stretches
from West Hollywood in Los Angeles County to Point Mugu in my district
in Ventura County. It was established in 1978 and is managed by the
National Park Service. Twenty-six distinct natural communities make
their home there, from freshwater aquatic habitats to the oak
woodlands. It is a critical haven for more than 450 animal species,
including the Golden Eagle.
It is considered unique among the National Park Service's holdings
and is easily accessible to over 12 million people living in Ventura
and Los Angeles Counties.
This bill, which I introduced with my good friend and colleague, the
gentleman from California (Mr. Sherman), would adjust the boundaries of
the Santa Monica Mountains Recreation Area to enhance and protect the
principal wildlife corridor between the Simi Hills in my district and
the Santa Monica Mountains in the district of the gentleman from
California (Mr. Sherman).
It adds nearly 3,700 acres of publicly and privately held lands to
the recreation area at no cost to the taxpayer. Of that, 2,797 acres
donated to the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, a State agency, will
be transferred to the Park Service. Another 570 acres is publicly- and
privately-owned open space. The rest is about 330 acres and is
comprised of developed residential areas in the cities of Calabasas and
Agoura Hills.
[[Page H2900]]
I want to stress that the recreation area designation would have no
impact on the ability for either the cities or private owners to
develop their land according to the applicable State laws and local
ordinances. It does, however, give property owners greater access to
Park Service assistance to environmentally enhance their properties if
they so choose.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 640 is an important addition to the recreation area
and enjoys widespread support from the local community, including the
private property owners. The bill also unanimously passed the House
Committee on Resources.
I would ask my colleagues to join with me today in passing this bill.
Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to
the gentleman from California (Mr. Sherman), who represents a portion
of this area and is a cosponsor of this legislation.
{time} 1045
Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me
time.
I rise in support of H.R. 640. I am pleased to join in that effort
with my distinguished colleague, the gentleman from Ventura County,
California (Mr. Gallegly).
Mr. Speaker, my colleague from California has explained the
importance of the Santa Monica Mountains Recreation Area. I should
point out that 33 million people visit this national recreation area
each year, for both its mountains and its beaches. It is within an
hour's drive of 17 million Americans.
In terms of recreation, it is the most important unit of the National
Park Service. The park since its inception has been run cooperatively
with local government, State government, and local community groups. It
has the overwhelming support, I would say the unanimous support, of
everyone in the area. For example, its general management plan included
input from over 70 elected officials, 15 public meetings, all in the
continuing effort to make sure that park management meets local needs.
H.R. 640 would expand the park boundaries to include some 3,700 acres
of non-Federal public and private lands. This would allow the Park
Service to assume management over a number of parcels which donors have
in effect already donated to the National Park Service. These include
the 107-acre Abrams property, the 2,300-acre Upper Las Virgenes Creek
area, and the 390-acre Liberty Canyon/Morrison Ranch area. These
parcels now have their title held by the Santa Monica Mountains
Conservancy, an agency of State government, but they would be better
administered as part of this national recreation area.
I want to stress that this bill will not cost the Treasury one cent.
This bill does not authorize the expenditure of any money. Just as
importantly, assuming management over these additional acres will not
require additional operating funds for the management of the Santa
Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.
Further, the bill provides that land within this area shall be
acquired by the Federal Government only by donation or with the use of
donated funds. I will not be back here next year asking for funds from
this Congress to buy land in this newly added area of the national
recreation area.
The gentleman from California (Mr. Gallegly) has talked about how
this bill and the expansion of the park boundaries has the support of
the affected local property owners. Some 900 acres of privately owned
land will now fall within the park's boundaries. Almost all of that
privately owned land, at least 99 percent of the private landowners,
are in my district. All of them support or have voiced their support
for this bill through their homeowners associations. It is amazing,
because I represent, I think, one of the most opinionated districts in
this country. On every other subject, I get opinions on both sides.
This is one area where our communities stand together.
The three homeowners associations included in these boundaries have
all sent letters of support. The Saratoga Hills Homeowners Association
has been particularly vocal, and some 100 of its members have signed a
petition. In addition, this bill is supported by all of the relevant
municipalities, by the relevant State senator, the relevant State
assembly member, the relevant county supervisor in the L.A. County
portion of the area, and enjoys strong support in Ventura County as
well.
I ask my colleagues to pass this bill, because it will provide for
new land to be managed as part of this national recreation area, a
wildlife corridor that is critical to the preservation of species in
the area, and will do so with no adverse consequences to local
landowners and at no cost to the Federal Government.
Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time,
and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests
for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Sununu). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Jones) that the House
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 640, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________