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 Su-
sanna Mountains, San Gabriel Mountains, Verdugo
Mountains, San Rafael Hills, and adjacent connector
areas to the Los Padres and San Bernardino Na-
tional 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 Cor-
ridor is the escarpment of the San Gabriel Moun-
tains 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 prop-
erty values of existing property owners.
(7) The State of California has adopted the
Rim of the Valley Master Plan, and local govern-
ments 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 pro-
vided by the Federal Government.
SEC. 3. STUDY OF RIM OF THE VALLEY CORRIDOR FOR ES-
TABLISHMENT 
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 Cor-
ridor 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 Cali-
fornia Public Resources Code (section 33000 et seq.).
(b) STUDY TOPICS.—The study shall evaluate the na-
tional significance of the area and the suitability and feasi-
bility 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 au-
thorized by this section, the Secretary shall regularly con-
sult 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 Na-
tional Recreation Area Advisory Committee (in this sec-
tion referred to as the ‘‘Committee’’).
(b) RECOMMENDATION
OF BOUNDARIES
FOR EX-
PANDED RECREATION AREA.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Committee shall—
(A) advise the Secretary of the Interior re-
garding the conduct of the study under section
3; and
(B) recommend to the Secretary of the In-
terior boundaries for a Santa Monica Moun-
tains and Rim of the Valley National Recre-
ation Area.
(2) BOUNDARY
REQUIREMENTS.—The bound-
aries 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 Sec-
retary 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 Na-
tional 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 hav-
ing 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 Thou-
sand 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;