S1870-119

What This Bill Does

The Rim of the Valley Corridor Preservation Act expands the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area by adding the Rim of the Valley Corridor—approximately 191,000 acres of land, water, and water rights in California. The bill amends the National Parks and Recreation Act of 1978 to officially include this new territory within the recreation area's boundaries. It allows the Secretary of the Interior to acquire land and water interests within the new area and to make minor boundary revisions after consulting with Congress.

Who Benefits and How

The National Park Service gains expanded jurisdiction and management responsibilities over an additional 191,000 acres, which increases the agency's scope and likely its budget allocations. Environmental conservation organizations benefit by achieving their goal of permanently protecting the Rim of the Valley Corridor from development. Outdoor recreation businesses and tourism operators in the area may see increased visitor traffic as the newly protected area gains federal visibility and promotion. Local communities benefit from permanent preservation of open space, wildlife habitat, and recreational access.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Real estate developers face new restrictions on development opportunities within the newly designated recreation area boundaries, as federal acquisition of land and water rights limits private development potential. Federal taxpayers bear the cost of acquiring land, water, and interests in the Rim of the Valley Unit, plus ongoing management and operational expenses for the expanded recreation area. Utility and water resource facility operators face some operational constraints, as the bill requires them to conduct activities in a manner that "reasonably avoids or reduces" impacts on the area's resources, though existing operations are explicitly protected.

Key Provisions

• Amends the National Parks and Recreation Act of 1978 to add the Rim of the Valley Unit (approximately 191,000 acres) to the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area based on a 2023 boundary map
• Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to acquire land and water interests within the new unit and to administer them under existing recreation area laws and regulations
• Allows minor boundary revisions after written notice to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the House Committee on Natural Resources
• Explicitly protects existing utility and water resource facility operations from disruption, while requiring future activities to minimize impacts on the area's natural resources
• Requires boundary maps to be publicly available in National Park Service offices for inspection