HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-06-23 - AGENDA REPORTS - NATIONAL PARK RESOURCE STUDY (2)0
Agenda Item: 5
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
Q) AGENDA REPORT
CONSENT CALENDAR ✓ �XI ZIA.
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL: /`
DATE: .lune 23, 2015
SUBJECT: NATIONAL PARK SERVICE: RIM OF THE VALLEY DRAFT
SPECIAL RESOURCE STUDY AND ENVIRONMENTAL
ASSESSMENT
DEPARTMENT: City Manager's Office
PRESENTER: Michael Murphy
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council support Alternative D and send statements of position to the National Park Service
and Santa Clarita's federal and state legislative delegation.
BACKGROUND
In 2008, Congress enacted and the President signed into law Public Law 110-229, which directed
the National Park Service to study the Rim of the Valley Corridor for potential inclusion as a unit
of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. The original legislation was
sponsored by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D -CA) and Representative Adam Schiff (D -CA -28). At
the City Council meeting of June 13, 2006, the Santa Clarita City Council voted to support
Senator Feinstein's S. 153 and Representative Schiffs H.R. 355, seeking to create the Rim of the
Valley Corridor Study Act.
The National Park Service was directed to evaluate: (1) the suitability and feasibility of
designating all or a portion of the area known as the Rim of the Valley Corridor as a unit of the
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, and. (2) the methods and means for
protection and interpretation of this corridor by the National Park Service, other federal, state, or
local government entities, or private or non-governmental organizations.
The National Park Service initiated the study in 2010. During the past five years, the National
Park Service has held a number of public meetings regarding various elements of the evaluation
process and has solicited both oral and written input throughout the process. In April 2015. the
National Park Service released the Rini of the Valley Corridor Drgft Special Resource Study and
Environmental Assessment. The study contains four alternatives. The four alternatives are as
follows: Alternative A (Continuation of Current Management --No Action), Alternative B
(Cooperative Conservation Partnership), Alternative C (Rim of the Valley Boundary
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Adjustment), and Alternative D (Regional Rim of the Valley Boundary Adjustment and
Cooperative Conservation Areas). The National Park Service is recommending Alternative C as
their preferred alternative. Maps demonstrating each of the proposed alternatives are attached to
this report.
In fall 2012, the National Park Service identified the Upper Santa Clara River area as containing
nationally significant ecological natural resources. This validates the importance of the area, as
contained within other earlier studies, such as the East Santa Clarita Land Conservation Cbneepl
Plan and Implementation Strategy, the Bureau of Land Management's South Coast Resource
Management Plan and Environmental Impact Slatement, and the National Park Service's San
Gabriel Watershed and Mountdins Special Resource Study. In particular, the East Santa Clarita
Land Conservation Concept Plan and Bnplenuentation Strategy identifies the Angeles Linkage
Conceptual Area Protection Plan (CAPP) zone, which recognizes the importance of connecting
the northern and southern sections of the Angeles National Forest. This connection will enable
the establishment of an important wildlife corridor, as well as facilitating enhanced protection of
important nationally significant ecological natural resources.
Contained within the CAPP zone and the Upper Santa Clara River area. within both the San
Gabriel Watershed and Mountains Special Resource Study and Rini of the Valley Draft Special
Resource Study and Environmental Assessment, is the proposed 56,000,000 ton (net) Soledad
Canyon sand and gravel mine proposed by CEMEX. The City of Santa Clarita is opposed to the
proposed CEMEX mining project and has been working with Senator Barbara Boxer, Senator
Dianne Feinstein, Representative Steve Knight, other members of Congress, the Bureau of Land
Management, National Park Service, and United States Forest Service to obtain cancellation of
CEMEX's mining contracts, withdrawal of the proposed mining site from mineral entry, and
appropriate compensation for CEMEX for the fair market value of their contracts. Additionally,
in October 2014 President Obama designated the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument,
which is directly adjacent to the proposed mining site.
Alternative D, as outlined in the National Park Service's Draft Special Resource Study and
Environmental Assessment, would adjust the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
boundary by 313,000 acres. The proposed area includes a strong emphasis on enhancing and
protecting wildlife corridors and cultural and ecological natural resources. The report notes,
"Alternative D would also include the upper Santa Clara River area which is home to more
sensitive plant community types than any other portion of the study area."
The City Council is requested to support Alternative D and send statements of position to the
National Park Service and Santa Clarita's federal and state legislative_ delegation by June 30,
2015.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION
I. Support Alternative A, Alternative B, or Alternative C.
2. Take no position on any of the alternatives.
3. Other action, as determined by the City Council.
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FISCAL IMPACT
No additional fiscal resources are required for implementation of the recommended action
beyond those already contained within the Fiscal Year 2014/15 adopted City budget.
ATTACHMENTS
Rim of the Valley Corridor Draft Special Resource Study and Environmental Assessment
Alternatives
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