[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 4, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17994-17996]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-8265]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket Nos. FMCSA-98-4334 and FMCSA-98-3637 (formerly FHWA-98-4334 and 
FHWA-98-3637)]


Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Vision

AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of renewal of exemption; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the FMCSA's decision to renew the 
exemptions from the vision requirement in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10), for 13 
individuals.

DATES: This decision is effective April 5, 2001. Comments from 
interested persons should be submitted by May 4, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Mail or hand deliver comments to the U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Dockets Management Facility, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh 
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590, or submit electronically at http://dmses.dot.gov/submit. All comments received will be available for 
examination and copying at the above address from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., 
e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Those desiring 
notification of receipt of comments must include a self-addressed, 
stamped postcard or you may print the acknowledgment page that appears 
after submitting comments electronically.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about the vision 
exemptions in this notice, Ms. Sandra Zywokarte, Office of Bus and 
Truck Standards and Operations, (202) 366-2987; for information about 
legal issues related to this notice, Mr. Joe Solomey, Office of the 
Chief Counsel, (202) 366-1374, FMCSA, Department of Transportation, 400 
Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590. Office hours are from 7:45 
a.m. to 4:15 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Electronic Access and Filing

    You may submit or retrieve comments online through the Document 
Management System (DMS) at: http://dmses.dot.gov/submit. Acceptable 
formats include: MS Word (versions 95 to 97), MS Word for Mac (versions 
6 to 8), Rich Text File (RTF), American Standard Code Information 
Interchange (ASCII)(TXT), Portable Document Format (PDF), and 
WordPerfect (versions 7 to 8). The DMS is available 24 hours each day, 
365 days each year. Electronic submission and retrieval help and 
guidelines are available under the help section of the web site.
    An electronic copy of this document may also be downloaded by using 
a computer, modem and suitable communications software from the 
Government Printing Office's Electronic Bulletin Board Service at (202) 
512-1661. Internet users may also reach the Office of the Federal 
Register's home page at: http://www.nara.gov/fedreg and the Government 
Printing Office's database at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara.

Background

    Thirteen individuals have requested renewal of their exemptions 
from the vision requirement in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10) which applies to 
drivers of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce. 
They are Joe F. Arnold, Gary A. Barrett, Ivan L. Beal, Johnny A. 
Beutler, Richard D. Carlson, David J. Collier, Loras G. Knebel, Dexter 
L. Myhre, James H. Oppliger, Stephanie D. Randels, Duane L. Riendeau, 
Darrell L. Rohlfs, and Robert A. Wagner. Under 49 U.S.C. 31315 and 
31136(e), the FMCSA may grant an exemption for a renewable 2-year 
period if it finds ``such exemption would likely achieve a level of 
safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level that would be 
achieved

[[Page 17995]]

absent such exemption.'' Accordingly, the FMCSA has evaluated the 13 
petitions for renewal on their merits and has decided to extend each 
exemption for a renewable 2-year period.
    On April 5, 1999, the agency published a notice of final 
disposition announcing its decision to exempt 23 individuals, including 
12 of these applicants for renewal, from the vision requirement in 49 
CFR 391.41(b)(10) (64 FR 16517). The qualifications, experience, and 
medical condition of each applicant were stated and discussed in detail 
at 63 FR 66226 (December 1, 1998). One comment was received, and its 
contents were carefully considered by the agency in reaching its final 
decision to grant the petitions (64 FR 16517). On October 9, 1998, the 
agency published a notice of final disposition announcing its decision 
to exempt 12 individuals, including Mr. Wagner, from the vision 
requirement in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10) (63 FR 54519). His qualifications, 
experience, and medical condition were stated and discussed in detail 
at 63 FR 30285 (June 3, 1998). Three comments were received, and their 
contents were carefully considered by the agency in reaching its final 
decision to grant the petitions (63 FR 54519). The agency determined 
that exempting the individuals from 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10) was likely to 
achieve a level of safety equal to, or greater than, the level that 
would be achieved without the exemption as long as the vision in each 
applicant's better eye continues to meet the standard specified in 
391.41(b)(10). As a condition of the exemption, therefore, the agency 
imposed requirements on the individuals similar to the grandfathering 
provisions in 49 CFR 391.64(b) applied to drivers who participated in 
the agency's former vision waiver program.
    These requirements are as follows: (1) That each individual be 
physically examined every year (a) by an ophthalmologist or optometrist 
who attests that vision in the better eye meets the standard in 49 CFR 
391.41(b)(10), and (b) by a medical examiner who attests the individual 
is otherwise physically qualified under 49 CFR 391.41; (2) that each 
individual provide a copy of the ophthalmologist's or optometrist's 
report to the medical examiner at the time of the annual medical 
examination; and (3) that each individual provide a copy of the annual 
medical certification to the employer for retention in the driver's 
qualification file and retains a copy of the certification on his/her 
person while driving for presentation to a duly authorized Federal, 
State, or local enforcement official.

Basis for Renewing Exemptions

    Under 49 U.S.C. 31315(b)(1), an exemption may be granted for no 
longer than 2 years from its approval date and may be renewed upon 
application for an additional 2-year period. In accordance with 49 
U.S.C. 31315 and 31136(e), each of the 13 applicants has satisfied the 
entry conditions for obtaining an exemption from the vision 
requirements (63 FR 30285; 63 FR 54519; 63 FR 66266; 64 FR 16517), and 
each has requested timely renewal of the exemption. These 13 applicants 
have submitted evidence showing that the vision in their better eye 
continues to meet the standard specified at 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10), and 
that the vision impairment is stable. In addition, a review of their 
records of safety while driving with their respective vision 
deficiencies over the past 2 years indicates each applicant continues 
to meet the vision exemption standards. These factors provide an 
adequate basis for predicting each driver's ability to continue to 
drive safely in interstate commerce. Therefore, the FMCSA concludes 
that extending the exemption for a period of 2 years is likely to 
achieve a level of safety equal to that existing without the exemption 
for each renewal applicant.

Discussion of Comments

    The Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (AHAS) expresses 
opposition to the FMCSA's procedures for renewing exemptions from the 
vision requirement in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10). Specifically, the AHAS 
objects to the agency's extension of the exemptions without any 
opportunity for public comment prior to the decision to renew and 
reliance on a summary statement of evidence to make its decision to 
extend the exemption of each driver.
    The FMCSA believes that the requirements for a renewal of an 
exemption under 49 U.S.C. 31315 and 31136(e) can be satisfied by 
initially granting the renewal and then requesting and evaluating, if 
needed, subsequently comments submitted by interested parties. As 
indicated above, the agency previously published notices of final 
disposition announcing its decision to exempt these 13 individuals from 
the vision requirement in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10). That final decision to 
grant exemptions to each of these individuals was based on the merits 
of each case and only after careful consideration of the comments 
received to its notices of application. Those notices of applications 
stated in detail the qualifications, experience, and medical condition 
of each petitioner for an exemption from the vision requirements. That 
information is available by consulting the above cited Federal Register 
publications.
    These 13 individuals identified in today's publication have 
successfully driven with an exception from the vision requirements for 
the past two years. These drivers have received physical examinations 
during the past two-year period, in accordance with the program 
requirements. Either an ophthalmologist or optometrist has attested 
that they continued to meet the standard in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10) in the 
better eye. Upon filing their renewal application, all 13 applicants 
have presented proof of continued qualification. Their vision 
impairment is stable. The driving record of all 13-renewal applicants 
continues to highlight their safe driving. These individuals have, and 
are continuing to, achieve a level of safety that is equivalent to, or 
greater than, the level that would be achieved absent the exemption.
    Nonetheless, interested parties or organizations possessing 
information that would otherwise show that any, or all of these 
drivers, are not currently achieving the statutory level of safety 
should immediately notify the FMCSA. The FMCSA will evaluate any 
adverse evidence submitted and, if safety is being compromised or if 
continuation of the exemption would not be consistent with the goals 
and objectives of 49 U.S.C. 31315 and 31136(e), the FMCSA will take 
immediate steps to revoke the exemption of a driver.

Conclusion

    In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31315 and 31136(e), the FMCSA extends 
the exemptions from the vision requirement in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10) 
granted to Joe F. Arnold, Gary A. Barrett, Ivan L. Beal, Johnny A. 
Beutler, Richard D. Carlson, David J. Collier, Loras G. Knebel, Dexter 
L. Myhre, James H. Oppliger, Stephanie D. Randels, Duane L. Riendeau, 
Darrell L. Rohlfs, and Robert A. Wagner, subject to the following 
conditions: (1) That each individual be physically examined every year 
(a) by an ophthalmologist or optometrist who attests that the vision in 
the better eye continues to meet the standard in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10), 
and (b) by a medical examiner who attests that the individual is 
otherwise physically qualified under 49 CFR 391.41; (2) that each 
individual provide a copy of the ophthalmologist's or optometrist's 
report to the medical examiner at the time of the annual medical 
examination; and (3) that each individual provide a copy of the annual 
medical certification to the employer for

[[Page 17996]]

retention in the driver's qualification file and retains a copy of the 
certification on his/her person while driving for presentation to a 
duly authorized Federal, State, or local enforcement official. Each 
exemption will be valid for 2 years unless revoked earlier by the 
FMCSA. The exemption will be revoked if: (1) The person fails to comply 
with the terms and conditions of the exemption; (2) the exemption has 
resulted in a lower level of safety than was maintained before it was 
granted; or (3) continuation of the exemption would not be consistent 
with the goals and objectives of 49 U.S.C. 31315 and 31136(e).

Request for Comments

    The FMCSA has evaluated the qualifications and driving performance 
of the 13 applicants here and extends their exemptions based on the 
evidence introduced. The agency will review any comments received 
concerning a particular driver's safety record and determine if the 
continuation of the exemption is consistent with the requirements at 49 
U.S.C. 31315 and 31136(e). While comments of this nature will be 
entertained at any time, the FMCSA requests that interested parties 
with information concerning the safety records of these drivers submit 
comments by May 4, 2001. All comments will be considered and will be 
available for examination in the docket room at the above address. The 
FMCSA will also continue to file in the docket relevant information 
which becomes available. Interested persons should continue to examine 
the docket for new material.

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 322, 31136 and 31315; and 49 CFR 1.73.

    Issued on: March 29, 2001.
Julie Anna Cirillo,
Acting Deputy Administrator,
[FR Doc. 01-8265 Filed 4-3-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P