Political Landscape:

After seven years working its way in various forms through Congress, Rep. Adam Schiff’s Rim of the Valley Corridor Study, which could pave the way toward more than doubling the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, is finally on its way to the president’s desk.

The bill is included in the Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008, which the House of Representatives passed on Tuesday. The Rim of the Valley study passed the House in December, but it had to be reconciled with Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s sister legislation in the Senate. Feinstein’s bill passed on April 10.

Billed by supporters as a way to preserve open space in Los Angeles County for generations, the measure directs the secretary of the interior to study the feasibility of expanding the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area to include additional portions of the mountains and canyons within the Rim of the Valley corridor. The Rim of the Valley consists 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.

“What I’m encouraged by is, 30 years ago, Congress had the foresight to devote the recreation area in the first place because they saw a burgeoning population they knew would continue to grow, and they thought ahead in protecting and preserving this beautiful land. And now looking forward, the population is going to continue to grow, and the question is can we have the same foresight,” Schiff said.

President Bush’s administration has been supportive of the bill, so Schiff said he’s optimistic that it will soon become law.

While congressional opposition to the bill was minimal this year, some property rights advocacy groups including the American Land Rights Assn. have attacked the legislation, labeling it an attempt at a massive land grab and governmental attempt to curb development.

Still, even if the measure is approved by the president, the study itself could take up to three years, Schiff said. And if the Department of the Interior recommends expansion of the recreation area, such a move would require a subsequent act of Congress, Schiff said.

Schiff envisions such a recommendation leading to voluntary negotiations between the federal government and property owners for purchase of Rim of the Valley lands.