■' - In 1985 the Council received numerous applrcations Jor amendment of the action plan 

 that addressed scheduling. These amendments called for rescheduling of action items to 

 address unforeseen delays in implementation, completion, and extra time needs for 

 coordination. In addition, the Council has updated the action plan by striking completed 

 actions, modifying partially completed actions, performing nonsubstantive editing of actions 

 where necessary, and substantive editing of actions to make them consistent with 

 amendment of other portions of the program. [Source Council staff j 



1503. COUNCIL RESPONSE 



The Council has adopted a five-year action plan to provide scheduling direction for fiscal 

 years 19857-198991 The Council has concluded that an action plan will speed and improve 

 program implementation by [Source: Council staff ] 



• Providing a more solid and focused basis for budgeting and planning by the implementing 

 agencies. 



• Establishing a clear way to judge the success of program implementation; 



• Encouraging the fish and wildlife agencies and tribes to set short-term priorities and begin 

 planning to meet long-ierm resource needs anc 



• Helping the Council improve its efforts to report to the region and Congress on significant fish 

 and wildlife issues 



-98- 



