[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 2 (Thursday, January 3, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 385]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-57]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2001-9800]


Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Diabetes

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

ACTION: Notice; reopening of comment period.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FMCSA is reopening the comment period on its notice 
proposing to issue exemptions to certain insulin-using diabetic drivers 
of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs), from the diabetes mellitus 
prohibitions contained in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations 
(FMCSRs). This action allows the public to view relevant information 
added to the docket after the earlier October 1, 2001, deadline for 
comments.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 4, 2002.

ADDRESSES: You can mail or deliver comments to the U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Dockets Management Facility, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh 
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001. You can also submit comments as 
well as see the submissions of other commenters at http://dms.dot.gov. 
Please include the docket number that appears in the heading of this 
document. You can examine and copy this document and all comments 
received at the same Internet address or at the Dockets Management 
Facility from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays. If you want to know that we received your comments, 
please include a self-addressed, stamped postcard or include a copy of 
the acknowledgement page that appears after you submit comments 
electronically.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information about the 
proposed diabetes exemption program 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. 
Joseph 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:

Background

    On July 31, 2001, FMCSA published a notice requesting comments on 
its proposal to issue exemptions to certain insulin-treated diabetic 
drivers of commercial vehicles from the diabetes requirement at 49 CFR 
391.41(b)(3) (66 FR 39548). The comment period closed on October 1, 
2001. That notice referenced analytical results of crash risks for CMV 
operators with insulin-treated diabetes mellitus from an agency 
sponsored study (``A Preliminary Study of the Risk Associated with the 
Operation of Commercial Motor Vehicles by Drivers with Insulin-Treated 
Diabetes Mellitus,'' 1999). Although the final results of this study 
were available and presented at the time of the July 31st notice, the 
report presenting the study methodology and findings had not been 
finalized and approved by FMCSA, and was not available to the public.
    Therefore, we are placing a copy of this final report entitled, ``A 
Study of the Risk Associated with the Operation of Commercial Motor 
Vehicles by Drivers with Insulin-Treated Diabetes Mellitus,'' 2001, in 
the docket and reopening the comment period.

    Issued on: December 21, 2001.
Joseph M. Clapp,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 02-57 Filed 1-2-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P