[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 229 (Wednesday, November 29, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69179-69180]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-20247]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2006-26274]


Medical Review Board Meeting

AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

ACTION: Notice of Meeting.

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SUMMARY: FMCSA announces the next public meeting of its Medical Review 
Board (MRB). The MRB members will continue deliberations about current 
FMCSA medical standards, as well as consider recommendations for new 
science-based standards and guidelines to ensure that the physical 
condition of drivers is adequate to enable them to safely operate 
commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce. In accordance 
with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), the meeting is open to 
the public.

DATES: The MRB meeting will be held from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on 
January 10, 2007.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will take place at the U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room 2230, 
Washington, DC 20590-0001. The public must enter through the Southwest 
Visitor Entrance and comply with building security procedures, 
including provision of appropriate identification prior to being 
accompanied by a Federal employee to the meeting rooms. You may submit 
comments identified by DOT Docket Management System (DMS) Docket Number 
FMCSA-2006-26274 using any of the following methods:
     Web site: http://dmses.dot.gov/submit. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments on the DOT electronic docket site.
     Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, 
Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the 
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, DC, between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.
    Instructions: All submissions must include the Agency name and 
docket number for this Notice. Note that all comments received will be 
posted without change to http://dms.dot.gov including any personal 
information provided. Please see the Privacy Act heading for further 
information.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received, go to http://dms.dot.gov at any time or Room PL-401 
on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., 
Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. The DMS is available 24 hours each day, 365 
days each year. If you want acknowledgment that we received your 
comments, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope or postcard 
or print the acknowledgement page that appears after submitting 
comments on-line.
    Privacy Act: Anyone may search the electronic form of all comments 
received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual 
submitting the comment (or of the person signing the comment, if 
submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). 
You may review the U.S. Department of Transportation's complete Privacy 
Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 
FR

[[Page 69180]]

19477; Apr. 11, 2000). This information is also available at http://dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Mary D. Gunnels, Chief, Physical 
Qualifications Division, 202-366-4001, FMCSA, Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001. 
Office hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays.

INFORMATION ON SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES: For 
information on facilities or services for individuals with disabilities 
or to request special assistance at the meeting, contact Kaye Kirby at 
202-366-4001.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The preliminary agenda for the meeting 
includes:

0900-0905 Call to Order, Agenda Review.
0905-0920 Medical Review Board (MRB) Actions.
0920-0945 Schedule II Medications.
0945-1015 Medications Expert Panel Recommendations.
1015-1045 MRB questions on Schedule II Medications.
1045-1145 Deliberations on Evidence Report & Panel Comments.
1145-1230 Public Comment Period.
1230 Adjourn.

    *Breaks will be announced on meeting day and may be adjusted 
according to schedule changes, other meeting requirements.

Background

    The U.S. Secretary of Transportation announced on March 7, 2006, 
the five medical experts who serve on FMCSA's Medical Review Board 
(MRB). Section 4116 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient 
Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU, Pub. L. 109-
59) requires the Secretary of Transportation with the advice of the MRB 
to ``establish, review, and revise medical standards for operators of 
Commercial Motor Vehicles (CMVs) that will ensure that the physical 
condition of operators is adequate to enable them operate the vehicles 
safely.'' FMCSA is planning updates to the physical qualification 
regulations of CMV drivers, and the MRB will provide the necessary 
science-based guidance to establish realistic and responsible medical 
standards.
    The MRB operates in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee 
Act (FACA) as announced in the Federal Register (70 FR 57642, October 
3, 2005). The MRB is charged initially with the review of all current 
FMCSA medical standards (49 CFR 391.41), as well as proposing new 
science-based standards and guidelines to ensure that drivers operating 
CMVs in interstate commerce, as defined in CFR 390.5, are physically 
capable of doing so.

Meeting Participation

    Attendance is open to all interested parties, including the general 
public, medical professionals, motor carriers, drivers and 
representatives of associations. Written comments for this MRB meeting 
are being accepted and will be accepted until January 25, 2007. Written 
comments should include the docket number that is listed in the 
ADDRESSES section. During the meeting, public oral comments are 
accepted for 45 minutes (11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.). Individual comments 
may be limited depending on the number of persons who wish to comment. 
Oral comments will be accepted on a first come, first serve basis as 
requestors register at the meeting. The comments must directly address 
relevant medical and scientific issues on the MRB meeting agenda. For 
more information, please view the following Web site: 
www.fmcsa.dot.gov/mrb.

    Issued on: November 22, 2006.
Pamela M. Pelcovits,
Office Director, Policy, Plans, and Regulations.
[FR Doc. E6-20247 Filed 11-28-06; 8:45 am]
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