[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 21 (Wednesday, February 5, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1979-S1980]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself and Mrs. Boxer):
  S. 302. A bill to revise the boundaries of the Golden Gate National 
Recreation Area in the State of California, to restore and extend the 
term of the advisory commission for the recreation area, and for other 
purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I am pleased to introduce this 
legislation today with Senator Boxer to allow the National Park Service 
to extend the boundaries of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, 
GGNRA, by acquiring critical natural landscapes and scenic vistas. Last 
year, this bill was successfully passed out of the Senate, but was not 
passed by the House before the 107th Congress adjourned.
  This bill meets two distinct needs in California by adding 4,700 
acres of pristine natural land to the boundary of the Golden Golden 
Gate Recreation Area, GGNRA, and by extending the Golden Gate National 
Recreational Area, GGNRA, Advisory Commission for ten more years.
  A key component of this legislation is that about half of the total 
cost of purchasing these lands will be donated by the local community. 
This legislation specifically provides that all land transactions 
involve a willing seller and willing buyer.
  Furthermore, this bill has the strong support of the local 
environmental and preservation groups, the Point Reyes National 
Seashore Advisory Commission, and the National Park Service. I know of 
no opposition to this bill.
  The three Marin County properties lie in the Marin headlands. 
Preservation of these lands will protect habitat, ridge-top trails and 
scenic views of San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean.
  The city of San Francisco would like to donate to the Federal 
Government the San Francisco land along the Pacific coastline, and has 
authorized $100,000 for the restoration of the site.
  The addition of the Rancho Corral de Tierra property will protect 
sweeping views of the San Mateo Coast and ensure the protection of rich 
farmland, several miles of public trails, and an incredible array of 
wildlife and vegetation. All or part of four watersheds, and several 
endangered species such as the peregrine falcon, San Bruno elfin 
butterfly, San Francisco garter snake and the red-legged grog. 
Moreover, due to the coastal marine influence and dramatic altitude 
changes, plants grow on the property that are found nowhere else in the 
world.
  The second component of this bill extends the advisory commission of 
the Golden Gate National Recreation Area for ten more years.
  This commission has an active committee that represents a wide range 
of user groups from bicyclists to bird watchers to outdoor enthusiasts. 
It provides a vital communications link between the Park Service and 
the surrounding communities that enjoy the attractions that this 
national site has to offer. Without this commission, the Park Service 
would be hard pressed to provide the same level of service and 
attention to the broad interests and diverse communities that it 
serves.
  I continue to be a strong advocate for public involvement in Park 
Service decisions. I believe that this commission has been essential in 
ensuring that the Park Service upholds its commitment to allow 
community participation in its decision making process, particularly 
when it comes to contentious issues.
  California's national parks are truly invaluable and the park that 
this bill supports offers an opportunity for visitors and residents to 
enjoy unique national habitats and open spaces. This legislation 
continues the legacy that enables the Park Service and the community to 
work together, not only to protect the environment, but also the 
interests of the nearby communities.
  This bill enjoys strong support from local and State officials and I 
hope that it will have as much strong bipartisan support this Congress, 
as it did last Congress. Congressman Tom Lantos plans to introduce 
companion legislation for this bill in the House and I applaud his 
leadership on this issue.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bill. I ask unanimous consent 
that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 302

       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 ``Rancho Corral de Tierra 
     Golden Gate National Recreation Area Boundary Adjustment 
     Act''.

     SEC. 2. GOLDEN GATE NATIONAL RECREATION AREA, CALIFORNIA.

       (a) Boundary Adjustment.--Section 2(a) of Public Law 92-589 
     (16 U.S.C. 460bb-1(a)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``The recreation area shall comprise'' and 
     inserting the following:
       ``(1) Initial lands.--The recreation area shall comprise''; 
     and

[[Page S1980]]

       (2) by striking ``The following additional lands are also'' 
     and all that follows through the period at the end of the 
     subsection and inserting the following new paragraphs:
       ``(2) Additional lands.--In addition to the lands described 
     in paragraph (1), the recreation area shall include the 
     following:
       ``(A) The parcels numbered by the Assessor of Marin County, 
     California, 119-040-04, 119-040-05, 119-040-18, 166-202-03, 
     166-010-06, 166-010-07, 166-010-24, 166-010-25, 119-240-19, 
     166-010-10, 166-010-22, 119-240-03, 119-240-51, 119-240-52, 
     119-240-54, 166-010-12, 166-010-13, and 119-235-10.
       ``(B) Lands and waters in San Mateo County generally 
     depicted on the map entitled `Sweeney Ridge Addition, Golden 
     Gate National Recreation Area', numbered NRA GG-80,000-A, and 
     dated May 1980.
       ``(C) Lands acquired under the Golden Gate National 
     Recreation Area Addition Act of 1992 (16 U.S.C. 460bb-1 note; 
     Public Law 102-299).
       ``(D) Lands generally depicted on the map entitled 
     `Additions to Golden Gate National Recreation Area', numbered 
     NPS-80-076, and dated July 2000/PWR-PLRPC.
       ``(E) Lands generally depicted on the map entitled `Rancho 
     Corral de Tierra Additions to the Golden Gate National 
     Recreation Area', numbered NPS-80,079C and dated January 
     2003, except that lands and interests in lands constituting 
     the Devil's Slide Tunnel alternative are not included in the 
     recreation area. The Secretary shall modify the boundary map 
     referred to in this subparagraph to reflect the exclusion of 
     such lands and interests in lands.
       ``(3) Acquisition limitation.--The Secretary may acquire 
     land described in paragraph (2)(E) only from a willing 
     seller.''.
       (b) Extension of Term of Advisory Commission.--Effective as 
     of October 26, 2002, section 5(g) of Public Law 92-589 (16 
     U.S.C. 460bb-4(g)) is amended by striking ``cease to exist 
     thirty years after the enactment of this Act'' and inserting 
     ``terminate at the end of the 10-year period beginning on the 
     date of the enactment of the Rancho Corral de Tierra Golden 
     Gate National Recreation Area Boundary Adjustment Act''.
                                 ______