ACTIVISTS BACK RUNNER'S CANYON PROTECTION BILL.

Byline: Teresa Jimenez Daily News Staff Writer

The map of the Rim of the Valley Corridor, a valuable swath of mountain ranges that stretches from Moorpark to Sierra Madre, has an obvious gap in it where Elsmere and Whitney canyons were left out.

When the corridor expansion was drafted by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy in 1990, the board faced pressure to take out those canyons, slated for a dump, or face rejection of the whole proposal.

Now, state Assemblyman George Runner, R-Lancaster, plans to change things.

``My bill would add the portion of the Rim of the Valley Corridor that was carved out,'' Runner said. ``If you look at the map, you can see that it was a very intentional move.''

Local politicians and activists gave their enthusiastic endorsement Monday to Runner's bill, which would add Elsmere and Whitney canyons to the park and wildlife corridor.

Runner, who presented Assembly Bill 1743 at Santa Clarita City Hall, said the corridor designation could help in the effort to keep a dump out of Elsmere Canyon. He added, however, that it would not restrict development.

``It is a planning tool that refers to proper use of the region,'' Runner said. ``Obviously, in looking at the area, an improper use of that region would be a landfill. An appropriate use would be as a recreation area.''

Though local politicians and activists have fought plans for a dump at Elsmere Canyon for a decade, the area last month was included in Los Angeles County's siting element, a landfill plan for the future that is required by the state.

Still, activists have continued the fight against a dump, and this time they are focusing on getting public ownership of the land. The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, which oversees the Rim of the Valley Corridor, has the authority to purchase land in the corridor if state money is available.

And politicians Monday said they would encourage housing developments or other compatible uses for the area if it prevented a landfill there.

``There's no one single thing that's going to solve this problem,'' Councilman Clyde Smyth said. ``But each action is a nail in the coffin.''

Runner said he expected opposition from Browning-Ferris Industries and Los Angeles County as the bill works its way through the legislative process. BFI owns the property, and the county eyes the remote canyons as ideal to meet the region's growing landfill needs.

Runner anticipates help from such big names as Disney Co., which owns a movie ranch and other land in the area. In addition, Disney's governmental affairs officer serves on the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy board and is familiar with the issues surrounding the corridor.

``They certainly want to protect an interest they have,'' Runner said.

Councilwoman Jill Klajic also recommended that Runner seek support from Watt Industries, a developer that owns land in Whitney Canyon and could build homes while placing some of the area in open space.

Runner agreed that development of homes would be more compatible to the area than a landfill.

``I don't think anyone is saying that this whole area should be fenced off and no one should be able to use it,'' Runner said.