There is hereby established the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (hereinafter referred to as the “recreation area”). The Secretary shall manage the recreation area in a manner which will preserve and enhance its scenic, natural, and historical setting and its public health value as an airshed for the Southern California metropolitan area while providing for the recreational and educational need of the visiting public.
With respect to improved properties, as defined in this section, fee title shall not be acquired unless the Secretary finds that such lands are being used, or are threatened with uses, which are detrimental to the purposes of the recreation area, or unless each acquisition is necessary to fulfill the purposes of this section. The Secretary may acquire scenic easements to such improved property or such other interests as, in his judgment are necessary for the purposes of the recreation area.
The owner of an improved property, as defined in this section, on the date of its acquisition, as a condition of such acquisition, may retain for herself or himself, her or his heirs and assigns, a right of use and occupancy of the improved property for noncommercial residential or agriculture purposes, as the case may be, for a definite term of not more than twenty-five years, or, in lieu thereof, for a term ending at the death of the owner or the death of her or his spouse, whichever is later. The owner shall elect the term to be reserved. Unless the property is wholly or partially donated, the Secretary shall pay to the owner the fair market value of the property on the date of its acquisition, less the fair market value on that date of the right retained by the owner. A right retained by the owner pursuant to this section shall be subject to termination by the Secretary upon his determination that it is being exercised in a manner inconsistent with the purposes of this section, and it shall terminate by operation of law upon notification by the Secretary to the holder of the right of such determination and tendering to him the amount equal to the fair market value of that portion which remains unexpired.
In exercising the authority to acquire property under this section, the Secretary shall give prompt and careful consideration to any offer made by an individual owning property within the recreation area to sell such property, if such individual notifies the Secretary that the continued ownership of such property is causing, or would result in, undue hardship.
The Secretary shall administer the recreation area in accordance with this Act and provisions of laws generally applicable to units of the National Park System, including the Act of August 25, 1916 (39 Stat. 535; 16 U.S.C. 1 et seq.).[1] In the administration of the recreation area, the Secretary may utilize such statutory authority available for the conservation and management of wildlife and natural resources as appropriate to carry out the purpose of this section. The fragile resource areas of the recreation area shall be administered on a low-intensity basis, as determined by the Secretary.
The Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements with the State of California, or any political subdivision thereof, for the rendering, on a reimbursable basis, of rescue, firefighting, and law enforcement services and cooperative assistance by nearby law enforcement and fire preventive agencies.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary is authorized to accept donations of funds, property, or services from individuals, foundations, corporations, or public entities for the purpose of land acquisition and providing services and facilities which the Secretary deems consistent with the purposes of this section.
The head of any Federal agency having direct or indirect jurisdiction over a proposed Federal or federally assisted undertaking in the lands and waters within the Santa Monica Mountains Zone, generally depicted on the map referred to in subsection (c), and the head of any Federal agency having authority to license or permit any undertaking in such lands and waters shall, prior to the approval of the expenditure of any Federal funds on such undertaking or prior to the issuance of any license or permit, as the case may be, afford the Secretary a reasonable opportunity to comment with regard to such undertaking and shall give due consideration to any comments made by the Secretary and to the effect of such undertaking on the “findings” and purposes of this section.
The Secretary shall give full consideration to the recommendations of the California Department of Parks and Recreation, the Santa Monica Mountains Comprehensive Planning Commission, and the California Coastal Commission.
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for acquisition of lands and interests in land within the boundaries of the recreation area established under this section, but not more than $15,000,000 for fiscal year 1979, $40,000,000 for fiscal year 1980, $45,000,000 for fiscal year 1981, $10,000,000 for fiscal year 1982, and $15,000,000 for fiscal year 1983, such sums to remain available until expended. For grants to the State pursuant to subsection (n) there are authorized to be appropriated not more than $10,000,000 for fiscal year 1979, $10,000,000 for fiscal year 1980, $5,000,000 for fiscal year 1981, and $5,000,000 for fiscal year 1982, such sums to remain available until expended. For the authorizations made in this subsection, any amounts authorized but not appropriated in any fiscal year shall remain available for appropriation in succeeding fiscal years.
For the development of essential public facilities in the recreation area there are authorized to be appropriated not more than $500,000. The Congress expects that, at least until assessment of the report required by subsection (t), any further development of the area shall be accomplished by the State of California or local units of government, subject to the approval of the Director, National Park Service.