Xcel Energy/USFWS

Avian Protection Memorandum Of Understanding

Semi-Annual Report #4

January 28, 2004

Covering August 3, 2003 through December 31, 2003 Reporting PeriodOn April 19, 2002, Xcel Energy and the USFWS (Service) entered into a Memorandum

of Understanding (MOU) to establish procedures and policies to be employed by the

Company's operating companies and the Service in dealing with migratory birds that

may be present, injured or killed on the Company's property during the period of this

MOU.

As part of the agreement, Xcel Energy agreed to file a report three months and two

weeks after the date of the execution of this MOU to the Service compiling the

information described above in the MOU, which occurred during the initial three-month

period. The Company submitted the first report on August 2, 2002. One report is

submitted on behalf of all the operating companies that signed the MOU every six

months. Since some of the special use permits recently acquired by several of the Xcel

operating companies have January 31, 2004 reporting dates, we have moved up the

reporting date slightly to accommodate both submittal date requirements. We will now

provide reports that cover January 1 through June 30 and July 1 through December 31.

The reports will be filed within 30 days of the final report date.

1. Status of the Development and Implementation of an Avian Protection Plan

(APP)

EDM International, Inc. has issued a final draft APP for Xcel Energy operating

companies Public Service Company of Colorado (PSC6) and Cheyenne Light Fuel and

Power Company (CLFP).. The Company is now reviewing the document to provide

comments to EDM before the final report is completed and submitted to the Service.

Xcel Energy staff is developing plans for implementing the final APP. We expect to

submit the final APP to the Service for review this summer.

As reported previously, Xcel Energy plans to start the APP's for its operating companies

Northern States Power - Wisconsin (NSPW), Northern States Power - Minnesota

(NSPM), and Southwestern Public Service Company (SPS) this year, but they will not

be fully developed until the PSCo APP is finalized. This will allow us to develop one

APP, work out issues and.have the format available to promptly complete the remaining

APP's. We plan to go out for bid on the rest of the APP work this year to start the

fieldwork in the summer of 2004.

Regardless of the completion date of the APP's, Xcel Energy will continue to manage

issues that arise with electrocutions and collisions that occur as the APP's are

developed.

Xcel Energy has implemented a training program for all electric delivery field personnel
Xcel Energy/USFWS

Avian Protection Memorandum Of Understanding

Semi-Annual Report #3

January 28, 2004

that may encounter birds. This training program is currently underway. Copies of

information handouts and posters are included with the hard copies of this report that

are sent out to the various Regions' migratory permit coordinators. Xcel Energy is

working on these issues and is in compliance with Section 4.A. of the other MOUs.

2. Status of Special Purpose Permit

Xcel Energy has filed applications for special purpose permits for all of the operating

companies. Special Purpose permits have been issued by Region 3 for NSPM (Permit

MB074020-0) and NSPW (Permit MB074019-0) and Region 6 for PSCo (Permit

MB702651-1) and CLFP (Permit MB793891-0) The SPS application is currently under

review by the respective USFWS Migratory Bird Offices.

3. Summary of Avian Injuries

None reported for any of the operating companies for this report period.

Operating Description Date Comments

Company .

4. Summary of Avian Deaths

The following table summarizes avian deaths that have occurred since August 2, 2002.

As noted in the introduction section, we are changing our reporting period to correspond

with our special purpose permit reporting requirements. We have reported all

occurrences through December 31, 2003. Specific details of an incident can be

provided upon request.

Operating Description Date Comments

Company -

NSPW Red-Tail Hawk 1013012003 Red Tail Hawk found dead under single-phase distribution line

near Stockholm, WI. Rep6rted to WDNR and USFWS offices.

Retrofit of pole will be assessed in early 2004.

NSPW Crow 8-22-03 Crow electrocuted on distribution line. Carcass left at site.

Structure will be reviewed in spring 2004 to determine if any

modification of structure possible at this time.

CLF&P Hawk, unknown type 8/27/03 Hawk was electrocuted on pole-mounted transformer south of

Cheyenne, WY. Carcass was thrown in garbage as directed

by Wyoming Game and Fish. Transformer was retrofitted.

CLF&P Owl, unknown type 9/3/03, Owl was electrocuted on pole-mounted transformer south of

Cheyenne, WY. Carcass was left in place as directed by

Wyoming Game and Fish. Transformer was retrofitted.

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Xcel Energy/USFWS

Avian Protection Mfernorandum Of Understanding

Semi-Annual Report #3

January 28, 2004

Operating Description Date Comments

Company

PSCo Duck, unknown type 9/11/03 Carcass was found in the Jeweli Substation in Denver, CO.

Cause of death is unknown and there were no signs of

possible electrocution. Carcass discarded and no retrofitting

is required.

PSCo Canadian Goose 12/17/03 Carcass was discovered in the Denver Terminal Substation

dead and with a broken wing. Cause of death is unknown

and there were no signs of possible electrocution. Carcass

was double bagged and discarded as directed by Colorado

Division of Wildlife.

SPS Red Tailed Hawk 09112/03 Carcass was discovered near Carlsbad, NM, during an

outage. Carcass was left at base of pole. Transformer was

retrofitted with one bird guard.

SPS American Coot 09/18/03 Carcass was discovered at Pantex North Substation, at

Pantex, near Amarillo Texas. Pantex personnel took

responsibility of the carcass and any further actions.

SPS Barn Owl 10/01/03 Carcass was discovered in Friona, Texas during an outage.

Carcass was left at base of pole. Transformer was retrofitted

with one bird guard.

SPS Turkey Vulture 10/04103 Carcass was discovered in Fritch, Texas during an outage.

The bird flew into the transformer risers. Carcass was left at

base of pole. Retrofit of pole will be assessed in early 2004.

SPS Hawk or Owl 10/10/03 Carcass was discovered near Cactus, Texas during an

outage. Carcass was burnt beyond recognition and left at

base of pole. Retrofit of the capacitor bank will be assessed

in early 2004.

SPS Red Tailed Hawk 10/15/03 Carcass was discovered on Cunningham Station property,

near Hobbs, NM. Carcass was left at base of pole. Retrofit

of the 3-bank transformer rack will be assessed in early 2004.

SPS Grackel 11/05/03 Carcass was discovered at Pullman Substation, near

Amarillo, Texas, during an outage. Carcass was left at

substation. Retrofit of structure will be assessed in early

2004.

SPS Great Blue Heron 11/18/03 The bird flew into a static wire, top line, & got severely

injured, and tangled. Status of bird: The Heron had a

severely broken wing. A zookeeper from the Spring River

Zoo in Rosweli, Marge Wood, came and helped out with

euthanizing the bird. Fish and Game, and the zoo wildlife

official determined the bird would not survive. SPS crew

humanely put down the bird, under Mrs. Wood's guidance,

before it was taken down. Game & Fish official on site: Ben

Hanson from the Roswell area.

SPS Red Tailed Hawks 11/21/03 Two carcasses were discovered near Amaillo, TX. Since no

outages occurred, SPS personnel were unaware of the

electrocutions. Resident phoned second electrocution in.

One carcass was significantly decayed. Carcasses were left

at base of pole. Transformer was retrofitted with one bird

guard and one jumper cable lead insulation.

SPS Great Homed Owl 11/24/03 Carcass was discovered near Borger, Texas during an

outage. Carcass was left at base of pole. Retrofit of pole will

be assessed in early 2004.

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Xcel Energy/USFWS

Avian Protection Memorandum Of Understanding

Semi-Annual Report #3

January 28, 2004

Operating Description Date Comments

Company

SPS Great Homed Owls 12/21/03 Twovo carcasses were discovered in Hansford County Texas

near Gnrver during an outage. The owls were electrocuted

while feasting on a rabbit when contact was made between

two phases of a three-phase pole. Carcasses were left at

base of pole. Retrofit of pole will be assessed in early 2004.

5. Summary of Migratory Bird Nest Removals

A. Active Migratory Bird Nests Non-Emergency Removals

None have been reported.

B. Active Nests Of Non-Endangered/Threatened, Non-eagle Migratory BirdsEmergency Removals

None have been reported

Operating Description Date Comments

Company

C. Inactive Nests of Non-listed, Non-eagle Migratory Birds -Emergency Removal

With the new FWS policy (Memorandum (MBPM-2) issued April 15 2003) for removal of

inactive nests of non-listed, non-eagle migratory birds, Xcel Energy will no longer report

these activities in this report. We will continue to work with the appropriate state

agencies as necessary.

D. Endangered/Threatened Migratory Bird Nest Removals

No removals for this reporting period.

6. Eagle Permits

No requests have been filed.

7. Summary of Record-Keeping Procedures

Each contact for the operating companies is coordinating contacts and reports. Once

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Xcel Energy/USFWS

Avian Protection Memorandum Of Understanding

Serni-Annual Report #3

January 28, 2004

the special purpose permits are acquired, final procedures will be completed. All

biannual reports submitted to USFWS are kept on a shared folder for the Company.

8. Next Report Date

The next report will be submitted to the Service within 30 days following July 31, 2004.

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