[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.

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