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. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Rim of the Valley Cor-
ridor Study Act’’.
SEC. 2. RESOURCE STUDY OF RIM OF THE VALLEY COR-
RIDOR, CALIFORNIA. 
(a) STUDY REQUIRED.—The Secretary of the Inte-
rior shall conduct a resource study of the lands, waters, 
and interests of the area known as the Rim of the Valley 
Corridor in the State of California to evaluate a range of 
alternatives for protecting resources of the corridor, in-
cluding the alternative of establishing all or a portion of 
the corridor as a unit of the Santa Monica Mountains Na-
tional Recreation Area. The Rim of the Valley Corridor 
generally includes the mountains encircling the San Fer-
nando, La Crescenta, Santa Clarita, Simi, and Conejo 
Valleys in California. 
(b) STUDY TOPICS.—In conducting the study, the 
Secretary shall seek to achieve the following objectives: 
(1) Protecting wildlife populations in the Santa 
Monica Mountains National Recreation Area by pre-
serving habitat linkages and wildlife movement cor-
ridors between large blocks of habitat in adjoining 
regional open space. 
(2) Establishing connections along the State- 
designated Rim of the Valley Trail System, with the 
aim of creating a single contiguous Rim of the Val-
ley Trail and encompassing major feeder trails con-
necting adjoining communities and regional transit 
to the trail system.
(3) Preserving recreational opportunities and 
facilitating access to open space for a variety of rec-
reational users. 
(4) Protecting rare, threatened, or endangered 
plant and animal species, and rare or unusual plant 
communities and habitats. 
(5) Protecting historically significant land-
scapes, districts, sites, and structures. 
(6) Respecting the needs of communities within, 
or in the vicinity of, the Rim of the Valley Corridor. 
(c) PRIVATE PROPERTY.—As part of the study, the 
Secretary shall analyze the potential impact that establish-
ment of all or a portion of the Rim of the Valley Corridor 
as a unit of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recre-
ation Area is likely to have on land within or bordering 
the area that is privately owned at the time the study is 
conducted. The report required by subsection (g) shall dis-
cuss the concerns of private landowners within the existing 
boundaries of the Santa Monica Mountains National 
Recreation Area. 
(d) COST EFFECTIVENESS.—As part of evaluating 
each alternative considered under the study, the Secretary 
shall estimate the impact of implementing the alternative 
on staffing and other potential costs to Federal, State, and 
local agencies and other organizations.
(e) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary shall conduct 
the study in consultation with appropriate Federal, State, 
county, and local government entities. 
(f) STUDY CRITERIA.—In addition to the special con-
siderations specified in this section, the Secretary shall 
conduct the study using the criteria prescribed for the 
study of areas for potential inclusion in the National Park 
System in section 8(c) of Public Law 91–383 (16 U.S.C. 
1a–5(c)). 
(g) TRANSMISSION OF STUDY.—Within three years 
after funds are first made available for the study, the Sec-
retary shall transmit a report containing the results of the 
study to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 
of the Senate and to the Committee on Resources of the 
House of Representatives. 
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