HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-06-13 - AGENDA REPORTS - RIM VALLEY STUDY ACT (2)Agenda Item: /M
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
CONSENT CALENDAR City Manager Approval:
Item to be presented by: Michael P. Murphy
DATE: June 13, 2006
SUBJECT: FEDERAL LEGISLATION: RIM OF THE VALLEY CORRIDOR
STUDY ACT
DEPARTMENT: City Manager's Office
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council support S. 153 and H.R. 355 which provide for the Rim of the Valley Corridor
Study Act. Statements of support shall be sent to Senator Dianne Feinstein, Senator Barbara
Boxer, Representative Howard P. "Buck" McKeon, Representative Adam Schiff, and appropriate
congressional committees and administration officials.
BACKGROUND
The Rim of the Valley Corridor covers more than 645,000 acres of state designated Significant
Ecological Areas. Of the entire acreage, over 50% is already managed by the federal
government; 153,000 acres is contained within the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation
Area, administered by the Department of the Interior, and 190,000 acres is contained within the
Angeles National Forest, administered by the Department of Agriculture. Additionally, the Rim
of the Valley Corridor includes parts of the Santa Monica, Santa Susanna, San Gabriel and
Verdugo mountains, as well as the San Rafael Hills, and portions of the San Bernardino and Los
Padres National Forests. In general terms, the Rim of the Valley Corridor includes the mountains
of the Santa Clarita, San Fernando, Conejo and Simi valleys.
Senator Feinstein introduced S. 153 on January 25, 2005. The measure is similar to legislation
which she introduced during the 107th Congress and 108th Congress. Under the current
proposal, a study would be conducted by the Secretary of the Interior to evaluate the feasibility of
establishing the entire Rim of the Valley Trail Corridor as part of the Santa Monica Mountains
National Recreation Area. Senator Feinstein introduced this legislation due to concerns that the
area is currently managed by a variety of state and federal agencies with a variety of financial and
I- I P N, IN i E
resource management expertise. This multiplicity of government agencies has led to concern that
critical protections for the overall area are not being universally and evenly applied.
The study has a number of objectives, including: 1) protecting wildlife populations through
preservation of habitat linkages and wildlife movement corridors; 2) establishing trail
connections leading to creation of a single, contiguous Rim of the Valley Trail and inclusion of
feeder trails; 3) preservation of recreational opportunities; 4) facilitating access to open space for
recreational users; 5) protection of rare, threatened, or endangered animal species; 6) protecting
historically significant sites, structures and landscapes; and, 7) respecting the needs of
communities, such as Santa Clarita, that are in the vicinity of the corridor.
The study's cost is estimated at $500,000, which would be partially offset by a $100,000
contribution from the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. The study is anticipated to take
three years to complete and will be done in consultation with appropriate federal, state, county,
and municipal government entities. The bill has been approved by the Senate and is currently
awaiting action in the House Committee on Resources, Subcommittee on National Parks.
A companion measure, sponsored by Representative Adam Schiff (D -CA -29), H.R. 355, contains
the same provisions as S. 153. Representative Schiffs bill is also awaiting action by the House
Committee on Resources, Subcommittee on National Parks. No date for mark-up of either
measure has yet been established.
The study should be of benefit to the City of Santa Clarita in identifying both existing levels of
protections and opportunities for open space areas adjacent to the City and whether
enhancements would occur as the result of additional federal management.
ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS
1. Take no position on S. 153 or H.R. 355.
2. Support only one of the two measures.
3. Other actions as determined by the City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
The action to support the Rim of the Valley Corridor Study Act does not require any resources
beyond those already accounted for in the City's adopted 2005/06 budget.
ATTACHMENTS
S. 153
H.R. 355
I
109CONGRESS
15 S• 153
1ST SESSION
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JULY 27, 2005
Referred to the Committee on Resources
AN ACT
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a resource
study of the Rim of the Valley Corridor in the State
of California to evaluate alternatives for protecting the
resources of the Corridor, and for other purposes.
1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
2 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 Cor -
5 ridor Study Act".
ii
I SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
2 In this Act:
3 (1) Ci'ORRIDOR.-
4 (A) IN GENERAL.—The term "Corridor"
5 means the land, water, and interests of the area
6 in the State known as the "Rim of the Valley
7 Corridor".
8 (B) INCLUSIONS.—The term "Corridor"
9 includes the mountains surrounding the San
10 Fernando, La Crescenta, Santa Clarita, Simi,
11 and Conejo valleys in the State.
12 (2) RECREATION AREA.—The term "Recreation
13 Area" means the Santa Monica Mountains National
14 Recreation Area in the State.
15 (3) SECRETARY.—The term "Secretary" means
16 the Secretary of the Interior.
17 (4) STATE.—The term "State" means the State
18 of California.
19 SEC. 3. RESOURCE STUDY OF THE RIM OF THE VALLEY
20 CORRIDOR, CALIFORNIA.
21 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall conduct a re -
22 source study of the Corridor to evaluate various alter -
23 natives for protecting the resources of the Corridor, in -
24 cluding designating all or a portion of the Corridor as a
25 unit of the Recreation Area.
8 153 Pam
1 (b) REQUIREMENTS. -In conducting the study under
2 subsection (a), the Secretary shall -
3
(1) seek to achieve the objectives of -
4
(A) protecting wildlife populations in the
5
Recreation Area by preserving habitat linkages
6
and wildlife movement corridors between large
7
blocks of habitat in adjoining regional open
8
space;
9
(B) establishing connections along the
10
State -designated Rim of the Valley Trail Sys -
11
tem for the purposes of -
12
(i) creating a single contiguous Rim of
13
the Valley Trail; and
14
(ii) encompassing major feeder trails
15
connecting adjoining communities and re -
16
gional transit to the Rim of the Valley
17
Trail System;
18
(C) preserving recreational opportunities;
19
(D) facilitating access to open space for a
20
variety of recreational users;
21
(E) protecting -
22
(i) rare, threatened, or endangered
23
plant and animal species; and
24
(ii) rare or unusual plant communities
25
and habitats;
S 153 RM
4
1 (F) protecting historically significant land -
2 scapes, districts, sites, and structures; and
3 (G) respecting the needs of communities
4 in, or in the vicinity of, the Corridor;
5 (2) analyze the potential impact of each alter -
6 native on staffing and other potential costs to Fed -
7 eral, State, and local agencies and other organiza-
8 tions; and
9 (3) analyze the potential impact that desig-
10 nating all or a portion of the Corridor as a unit of
11 the Recreation Area would have on land in or bor-
12 dering the area that is privately owned as of the
13 date on which the study is conducted.
14 (e) CONSULTATION.—In conducting the study, the
15 Secretary shall consult with appropriate Federal, State,
16 county, and local government entities.
17 (d) APPLICABLE LAw.-Section 8(c) of Public Law
18 91-383 (16 U.S.C. la -5(c)) shall apply to the conduct
19 and completion of the study required by subsection (a).
20 SEC. 4. REPORT.
21 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 3 years after the
22 date on which funds are first made available for the study,
23
the
Secretary shall submit
to the Committee
on Energy
24
and
Natural Resources of
the Senate and to
the Com -
25 mittee on Resources of the House of Representatives a re -
8 153 RM
5
1 port that describes the results of the study conducted
2 under section 3.
3 (b) INCLUSION.—The report submitted under sub -
4 section 4(a) shall include the concerns of private land -
5 owners within the boundaries of the Recreation Area.
Passed the Senate July 26, 2005.
Attest: EMILY J. REYNOLDS,
Secretary.
s 163 RM
I
109TH CONGRESS
1ST H• R• 355
SESSION
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 Representa-
2 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 Cor -
5 ridor Study Act".
2
1 SEC. 2. RESOURCE STUDY OF RIM OF THE VALLEY COR,
2 RIDOR, CALIFORNIA.
3 (a) STUDY REQUIRED.—The Secretary of the Inte-
4 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, in -
8 cluding the alternative of establishing all or a portion of
9 the corridor as a unit of the Santa Monica Mountains Na -
10 tional Recreation Area. The Rim of the Valley Corridor
11 generally includes the mountains encircling the San Fer-
12 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 pre -
18 serving habitat linkages and wildlife movement cor-
19 ridors between large blocks of habitat in adjoining
20 regional open space.
21 (2) Establishing connections along the State -
22 designated Rim of the Valley Trail System, with the
23 aim of creating a single contiguous Rim of the Val -
24 ley Trail and encompassing major feeder trails con -
25 necting adjoining communities and regional transit
26 to the trail system.
•HR 355 1H
3
1 (3) Preserving recreational opportunities and
2 facilitating access to open space for a variety of rec-
3 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 land -
8 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 establish -
13 ment of all or a portion of the Rim of the Valley Corridor
14 as a unit of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recre-
15 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 dis-
18 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.
•HR 355 1H
4
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 con -
5 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 la -5(c)).
10 (g) TRANSMISSION OF STUDY.—Within three years
11 after funds are first made available for the study, the Sec -
12 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.
C
-HR 355 M