text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Rim of the Valley Corridor Study 
  Act''.
  
  SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
  
      The Congress finds the following:
              (1) The greater Southern California metropolitan region is 
          the second largest urban concentration in the United States, 
          with almost one-tenth of the total population of the country, 
          yet it has one of the lowest ratios of park-and-recreation-
          lands-per-thousand-population of any urban area in the country. 
          Unless action is taken soon, this situation will only become 
          worse as the region continues to be subjected to intense 
          growth.
              (2) The lack of park, recreation, natural open space, and 
          habitat protection in close proximity to the greater Southern 
          California metropolitan region deprives the individuals who 
          reside there of--
                      (A) the health and spiritual welfare benefits of 
                  proximity to nature; and
                      (B) the quantifiable benefits of reduced crime, 
                  lower social tension, and increased educational 
                  opportunities that are associated with the provision of 
                  open space in geographic proximity to and accessible to 
                  urban populations.
              (3) The Rim of the Valley Corridor encircling the San 
          Fernando and La Crescenta valleys provides important scenic, 
          environmental, recreational, educational, scientific, and 
          economic assets to the greater Southern California metropolitan 
          region. These 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 Susanna Mountains, San 
          Gabriel Mountains, Verdugo Mountains, San Rafael Hills, and 
          adjacent connector areas to the Los Padres and San Bernardino 
          National 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 Corridor is the 
          escarpment of the San Gabriel Mountains 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 property values of existing property owners.
              (7) The State of California has adopted the Rim of the 
          Valley Master Plan, and local governments 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 provided by the Federal 
          Government.
  
  SEC. 3. STUDY OF RIM OF THE VALLEY CORRIDOR FOR ESTABLISHMENT 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 Corridor 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 
  California Public Resources Code (section 33000 et seq.).
      (b) Study Topics.--The study shall evaluate the national 
  significance of the area and the suitability and feasibility 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 authorized by this 
  section, the Secretary shall regularly consult 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 National Recreation Area Advisory 
  Committee (in this section referred to as the ``Committee'').
      (b) Recommendation of Boundaries for Expanded Recreation Area.--
              (1) In general.--The Committee shall--
                      (A) advise the Secretary of the Interior regarding 
                  the conduct of the study under section 3; and
                      (B) recommend to the Secretary of the Interior 
                  boundaries for a Santa Monica Mountains and Rim of the 
                  Valley National Recreation Area.
              (2) Boundary requirements.--The boundaries 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 Secretary 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 National 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 having 
          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 Thousand 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;
                      (H) the city council of the city of Calabasas;
                      (I) the city council of the city of Burbank;
                      (J) the city council of the city of Glendale;
                      (K) the city council of the city of La Canada-
                  Flintridge;
                      (L) the city council of the city of Pasadena;
                      (M) the city council of the city of Sierra Madre;
                      (N) the city council of the city of South Pasadena;
                      (O) the city council of the city of Santa Clarita;
                      (P) the city council of the city of Moorpark; and
                      (Q) the board of supervisors of Los Angeles county 
                  to represent the unincorporated communities within the 
                  jurisdiction of the East Rim of the Valley Trail 
                  Corridor, after consultation with the Town Council of 
                  Altadena and the Crescenta Valley Town Council.
              (2) The Superintendent of the Santa Monica Mountains 
          National Recreation Area, or a designee of such Superintendent.
              (3) The Supervisor of the Angeles National Forest, or a 
          designee of such Supervisor.
              (4) The Superintendent of the Angeles District of the State 
          of California Department of Parks and Recreation, or a designee 
          of such Superintendent.
              (5) The Director of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, 
          or a designee of such Director.
              (6) One representative of the Rancho Simi Recreation and 
          Park District, nominated by the Board of Directors of such 
          district.
              (7) One representative of the Conejo Recreation and Park 
          District, nominated by the Board of Directors of such district.
              (8) One representative of the Pleasant Valley Recreation 
          and Park District, nominated by the Board of Directors of such 
          district.
      (d) Chairperson and Vice Chairperson.--The Committee shall select 
  from among its members a chairperson and a vice chairperson.
      (e) Compensation and Expenses.--The members of the Committee shall 
  serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed by the Secretary of 
  the Interior for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of 
  their duties.
      (f) Quorum.--13 members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum 
  for the transaction of any business.
      (g) Termination.--The Committee shall terminate upon the submittal 
  by the Secretary of the special resources study under section 3 to the 
  Congress.
target: Rim of the Valley Corridor Study Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study of the lands, waters, and interests of the Rim of the Valley Corridor in Southern California to evaluate its national significance and the suitability and feasibility of establishing it as a unit of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area of the National Park System.Establishes the Rim of the Valley Corridor and Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area Advisory Committee to: (1) advise the Secretary regarding such study; and (2) recommend to the Secretary boundaries for a Santa Monica Mountains and Rim of the Valley National Recreation Area.
feat_title: To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resources study to evaluate the suitability and feasibility of establishing the Rim of the Valley Corridor as a unit of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.