I 

109TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 355 

To provide for a resource study of the area known as the Rim of the 

Valley Corridor in the State of California to evaluate alternatives for 

protecting resources of the corridor, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 25, 2005 

Mr. SCHIFF (for himself, Mr. DREIER, Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California, 

and Mr. SHERMAN) introduced the following bill; which was referred to 

the Committee on Resources 

A BILL 

To provide for a resource study of the area known as the 

Rim of the Valley Corridor in the State of California 

to evaluate alternatives for protecting resources of the 

corridor, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Rim of the Valley Cor5 ridor Study Act’’. 
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1 SEC. 2. RESOURCE STUDY OF RIM OF THE VALLEY COR2 RIDOR, CALIFORNIA. 

3 (a) STUDY REQUIRED.—The Secretary of the Inte4 rior shall conduct a resource study of the lands, waters, 

5 and interests of the area known as the Rim of the Valley 

6 Corridor in the State of California to evaluate a range of 

7 alternatives for protecting resources of the corridor, in8 cluding the alternative of establishing all or a portion of 

9 the corridor as a unit of the Santa Monica Mountains Na10 tional Recreation Area. The Rim of the Valley Corridor 

11 generally includes the mountains encircling the San Fer12 nando, La Crescenta, Santa Clarita, Simi, and Conejo 

13 Valleys in California. 

14 (b) STUDY TOPICS.—In conducting the study, the 

15 Secretary shall seek to achieve the following objectives: 

16 (1) Protecting wildlife populations in the Santa 

17 Monica Mountains National Recreation Area by pre18 serving habitat linkages and wildlife movement cor19 ridors between large blocks of habitat in adjoining 

20 regional open space. 

21 (2) Establishing connections along the State22 designated Rim of the Valley Trail System, with the 

23 aim of creating a single contiguous Rim of the Val24 ley Trail and encompassing major feeder trails con25 necting adjoining communities and regional transit 

26 to the trail system. 
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1 (3) Preserving recreational opportunities and 

2 facilitating access to open space for a variety of rec3 reational users. 

4 (4) Protecting rare, threatened, or endangered 

5 plant and animal species, and rare or unusual plant 

6 communities and habitats. 

7 (5) Protecting historically significant land8 scapes, districts, sites, and structures. 

9 (6) Respecting the needs of communities within, 

10 or in the vicinity of, the Rim of the Valley Corridor. 

11 (c) PRIVATE PROPERTY.—As part of the study, the 

12 Secretary shall analyze the potential impact that establish13 ment of all or a portion of the Rim of the Valley Corridor 

14 as a unit of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recre15 ation Area is likely to have on land within or bordering 

16 the area that is privately owned at the time the study is 

17 conducted. The report required by subsection (g) shall dis18 cuss the concerns of private landowners within the existing 

19 boundaries of the Santa Monica Mountains National 

20 Recreation Area. 

21 (d) COST EFFECTIVENESS.—As part of evaluating 

22 each alternative considered under the study, the Secretary 

23 shall estimate the impact of implementing the alternative 

24 on staffing and other potential costs to Federal, State, and 

25 local agencies and other organizations. 
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1 (e) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary shall conduct 

2 the study in consultation with appropriate Federal, State, 

3 county, and local government entities. 

4 (f) STUDY CRITERIA.—In addition to the special con5 siderations specified in this section, the Secretary shall 

6 conduct the study using the criteria prescribed for the 

7 study of areas for potential inclusion in the National Park 

8 System in section 8(c) of Public Law 91–383 (16 U.S.C. 

9 1a–5(c)). 

10 (g) TRANSMISSION OF STUDY.—Within three years 

11 after funds are first made available for the study, the Sec12 retary shall transmit a report containing the results of the 

13 study to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 

14 of the Senate and to the Committee on Resources of the 

15 House of Representatives. 

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