[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 67 (Thursday, April 7, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20433-20435]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-08059]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2001-11426; FMCSA-2002-12844; FMCSA-2003-16564; 
FMCSA-2005-22194; FMCSA-2005-22727; FMCSA-2005-23099; FMCSA-2007-0071; 
FMCSA-2007-27897; FMCSA-2009-0206; FMCSA-2009-0291; FMCSA-2009-0321; 
FMCSA-2011-0140; FMCSA-2011-0141; FMCSA-2011-0325; FMCSA-2011-0365; 
FMCSA-2011-0366; FMCSA-2013-0167; FMCSA-2013-0168; FMCSA-2013-0169; 
FMCSA-2013-0170; FMCSA-2013-0174]


Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Vision

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

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

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SUMMARY: FMCSA announces its decision to renew the exemptions from the 
vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 
91 individuals. FMCSA has statutory authority to exempt individuals 
from the vision requirement if the exemptions granted will not 
compromise safety. The Agency has concluded that granting these 
exemption renewals will provide a level of safety that is equivalent to 
or greater than the level of safety maintained without the exemptions 
for these commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers.

DATES: Each group of renewed exemptions are effective from the dates 
stated in the discussions below. Comments must be received on or before 
May 9, 2016.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments bearing the Federal Docket 
Management System (FDMS) numbers: Docket No. [Docket No. FMCSA-2001-
11426; FMCSA-2002-12844; FMCSA-2003-16564; FMCSA-2005-22194; FMCSA-
2005-22727; FMCSA-2005-23099; FMCSA-2007-0071; FMCSA-2007-27897; FMCSA-
2009-0206; FMCSA-2009-0291; FMCSA-2009-0321; FMCSA-2011-0140; FMCSA-
2011-0141; FMCSA-2011-0325; FMCSA-2011-0365; FMCSA-2011-0366; FMCSA-
2013-0167; FMCSA-2013-0168; FMCSA-2013-0169; FMCSA-2013-0170; FMCSA-
2013-0174], using any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line instructions for submitting 
comments.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West Building Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery or Courier: West Building Ground Floor, Room 
W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 
5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays.
     Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
    Instructions: Each submission must include the Agency name and the 
docket number for this notice. Note that DOT posts all comments 
received without change to http://www.regulations.gov, including any 
personal information included in a comment. Please see the Privacy Act 
heading below.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments, go to http://www.regulations.gov at any time or Room W12-140 
on the ground level of the West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 
Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. The Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) 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 DOT's Privacy Act Statement for the Federal Docket 
Management System (FDMS) published in the Federal Register on January 
17, 2008 (73 FR 3316).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christine A. Hydock, Chief, Medical 
Programs Division, Medical Programs Division, 202-366-4001, 
[email protected], FMCSA, Department of Transportation, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Room W64-224, Washington, DC 20590-0001. Office 
hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Under 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315, FMCSA may renew an exemption 
from the vision requirements in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10), which applies to 
drivers of CMVs in interstate commerce, for a two-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 absent 
such exemption.'' The procedures for requesting an exemption (including 
renewals) are set out in 49 CFR part 381.

Exemption Decision

    This notice addresses 91 individuals who have requested renewal of 
their exemptions in accordance with FMCSA procedures. FMCSA has 
evaluated these 91 applications for renewal on their merits and decided 
to extend each exemption for a renewable two-year period. Each 
individual is identified according to the renewal date.
    The exemptions are extended subject to the following conditions: 
(1) That each individual has a physical examination every year (a) by 
an ophthalmologist or optometrist who attests that the vision in the 
better eye continues to meet the requirements 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 provides 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. Each exemption will be valid for 
two years unless rescinded earlier by FMCSA. The exemption will be 
rescinded 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. 31136(e) and 31315.

Basis for Renewing Exemptions

    Under 49 U.S.C. 31315(b)(1), an exemption may be granted for no 
longer than two years from its approval date and may be renewed upon 
application for additional two year periods. The following group(s) of 
drivers will receive renewed exemptions effective in the month of March 
and are discussed below.
    As of March 2, 2016, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 
31315, the following 27 individuals have satisfied the conditions for 
obtaining a renewed exemption from the vision requirements (70 FR 
71884; 71

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FR 4632; 73 FR 5259; 74 FR 43217; 74 FR 57551; 74 FR 65842; 75 FR 1451; 
75 FR 9482; 76 FR 37169; 76 FR 50318; 76 FR 53710; 76 FR 75942; 76 FR 
75943; v77 FR 539; 77 FR 545; 77 FR 10604; 77 FR 10608; 77 FR 10604; 78 
FR 63302; 78 FR 64271; 78 FR 64274; 79 FR 10619):

John P. Bails (IA)
Donald J. Bierwirth, Jr. (CT)
Lester E. Burns (NM)
Cris D. Bush (TN)
Bruce A. Cameron (ND)
Billy C. Chenault (NM)
Eugene Contreras (NM)
Jim L. Davis (NM)
Eric DeFrancesco (PA)
David E. Evans (NC)
Jason L. Hoovan (UT)
Amos W. Hulsey (AL)
Brandon C. Koopman (NE)
Curtis M. Lawless (VA)
Norman V. Myers (WA)
Millard F. Neace II (WV)
William E. Norris (NC)
Paul D. Prillaman (VA)
Richard E. Purvenas, Jr. (DE)
Scott Randol (MO)
Mark C. Reineke (NM)
Miguel A. Sanchez (NM)
Tigran Semerjyan (CA)
Lawrence D. Ventimiglia (NV)
James Vickery (KY)
Norman J. Watson (NC)
Reginald J. Wuethrich (IL)

    The drivers were included in one of the following dockets: Docket 
Nos. FMCSA-2005-22727; FMCSA-2009-0206; FMCSA-2009-0291; FMCSA-2011-
0140; FMCSA-2011-0141; FMCSA-2011-0325; FMCSA-2013-0167; FMCSA-2013-
0168; FMCSA-2013-0169; FMCSA-2013-0170. Their exemptions are effective 
as of March 2, 2016 and will expire on March 2, 2018.
    As of March 5, 2016 and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 
31315, the following 10 individuals have satisfied the conditions for 
obtaining a renewed exemption from the vision requirements (68 FR 
74699; 69 FR 10503; 70 FR 57353; 70 FR 72689; 71 FR 6829; 72 FR 39879; 
72 FR 52419; 72 FR 62897; 73 FR 8392; 74 FR 64124; 75 FR 8184; 77 FR 
7233; 79 FR 10602):

Lee A. Burke (WI)
Barton C. Caldara (WI)
Allan Darley (UT)
Richard Hailey, Jr. (DC)
Robert V. Hodges (IL)
John R. Knott, III (MD)
Timothy S. Miller (AZ)
Edward D. Pickle (GA)
Robert L. Thies (IN)
James T. Wortham, Jr. (GA)

    The drivers were included in one of the following dockets: Docket 
No. FMCSA-2003-16564; FMCSA-2005-22194; FMCSA-2007-27897. Their 
exemptions are effective as of March 5, 2016 and will expire on March 
5, 2018.
    As of March 7, 2016, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 
31315, the following 6 individuals have satisfied the conditions for 
obtaining a renewed exemption from the vision requirements (77 FR 3552; 
77 FR 13691; 79 FR 12565):

Richard P. Frederiksen (WY)
Samuel V. Holder (IL)
Dennis J. Lessard (IN)
Jerry L. Pettijohn (OK)
Jake F. Richter (KS)
Robert J. Townsley (VA)

    The drivers were included in one of the following dockets: Docket 
No. FMCSA-2011-0365. Their exemptions are effective as of March 7, 2016 
and will expire on March 7, 2018.
    As of March 13, 2016, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 
31315, the following 20 individuals have satisfied the conditions for 
obtaining a renewed exemption from the vision requirements (79 FR 1908; 
79 FR 14333):

Jeffrey A. Benoit (VT)
Norvan D. Brown (IA)
Jackie K. Curlin (KY)
Justin W. Demarchi (OH)
Gary A. Goostree (OH)
Jimmey C. Harris (TX)
David G. Henry (TX)
Rogelio C. Hernandez (CA)
Michael J. Hoskins (KS)
Zion Irizarry (NV)
Mohamed H. Issak (KS)
Juan J. Luna (CA)
Robert Mollicone (FL)
Christopher D. Moore (NC)
Elmore Nicholson, Jr. (AL)
James C. Paschal, Jr. (GA)
Harold D. Pressley (TX)
Jason C. Sadler (KY)
Robert Schick (PA)
Michael O. Thomas (NC)

    The drivers were included in one of the following dockets: Docket 
No. FMCSA-2013-0174. Their exemptions are effective as of March 13, 
2016 and will expire on March 13, 2018.
    As of March 15, 2016, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 
31315, the following 11 individuals have satisfied the conditions for 
obtaining a renewed exemption from the vision requirements (67 FR 
68719; 68 FR 2629; 70 FR 7545; 71 FR 4194; 71 FR 13450; 72 FR 39879; 72 
FR 40362; 72 FR 52419; 73 FR 9158; 74 FR 43217; 74 FR 57551; 74 FR 
64124; 74 FR 65842; 75 FR 1451):

Gene Bartlett, Jr. (VT)
Ronald D. Boeve (MI)
Daniel M. Cannon (OR)
Wayne H. Holt (UT)
Billy R. Jeffries (WV)
Guy A. Lanham (FL)
Oscar N. Lefferts (AL)
Willie L. Parks (CA)
Bradley S. Sanders (NM)
Gary N. Wilson (UT)
William B. Wilson (KY)

    The drivers were included in one of the following dockets: Docket 
No. FMCSA-2002-12844; FMCSA-2005-23099; FMCSA-2007-27897; FMCSA-2009-
0206; FMCSA-2009-0291; FMCSA-2009-0321; FMCSA-2011-0365. Their 
exemptions are effective as of March 15, 2016 and will expire on March 
15, 2018.
    As of March 23, 2016, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 
31315, the following 6 individuals have satisfied the conditions for 
obtaining a renewed exemption from the vision requirements (67 FR 
10471; 67 FR 19798; 69 FR 26206; 77 FR 5874; 77 FR 17117; 79 FR 13085):

Paul R. Barron (MO)
Eugenio V. Bermudez (MA)
Johnny Dillard (SC)
Edward M. Jurek (NY)
Glenn R. Theis (MN)
Peter A. Troyan (MI)

    The drivers were included in one of the following dockets: Docket 
No. FMCSA-2001-11426; FMCSA-2011-0366. Their exemptions are effective 
as of March 23, 2016 and will expire on March 23, 2018.
    As of March 31, 2016, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 
31315, the following 11 individuals have satisfied the conditions for 
obtaining a renewed exemption from the vision requirements (68 FR 
74699; 69 FR 10503; 71 FR 6829; 73 FR 6242; 73 FR 8392; 73 FR 16950; 75 
FR 8184; 75 FR 9477; 77 FR 7723; 77 FR 13689; 79 FR 14331):

Alberto Blanco (NC)
Charles W. Cox (AR)
Gary W. Ellis (NC)
Robin S. England (GA)
W. R. Goold (AZ)
K. L. Guse (OH)
Steven W. Halsey (MO)
John C. Henricks (OH)
Thomas M. Leadbitter (PA)
Jonathan P. Lovel (IL)
Kent S. Reining (IL)

    The drivers were included in one of the following dockets: Docket 
No. FMCSA-2003-16564; FMCSA-2007-0071. Their exemptions are effective 
as of March 31, 2016 and will expire on March 31, 2018.
    Each of the 91 applicants listed in the groups above has requested 
renewal of the exemption and has submitted evidence showing that the 
vision in the better eye continues to meet the

[[Page 20435]]

requirement specified at 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10) and that the vision 
impairment is stable. In addition, a review of each record of safety 
while driving with the respective vision deficiencies over the past two 
years indicates each applicant continues to meet the vision exemption 
requirements.
    These factors provide an adequate basis for predicting each 
driver's ability to continue to drive safely in interstate commerce. 
Therefore, FMCSA concludes that extending the exemption for each 
renewal applicant for a period of two years is likely to achieve a 
level of safety equal to that existing without the exemption.

Request for Comments

    FMCSA will review comments received at any time 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. 31136(e) 
and 31315. However, FMCSA requests that interested parties with 
specific data concerning the safety records of these drivers submit 
comments by May 9, 2016.
    FMCSA believes that the requirements for a renewal of an exemption 
under 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315 can be satisfied by initially 
granting the renewal and then requesting and evaluating, if needed, 
subsequent comments submitted by interested parties. As indicated 
above, the Agency previously published notices of final disposition 
announcing its decision to exempt these 91 individuals from the vision 
requirement in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10). The final decision to grant an 
exemption to each of these individuals was made on the merits of each 
case and made only after careful consideration of the comments received 
to its notices of applications. The notices of applications stated in 
detail the qualifications, experience, and medical condition of each 
applicant for an exemption from the vision requirements. That 
information is available by consulting the above cited Federal Register 
publications.
    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 FMCSA. The Agency 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. 
31136(e) and 31315, FMCSA will take immediate steps to revoke the 
exemption of a driver.

Submitting Comments

    You may submit your comments and material online or by fax, mail, 
or hand delivery, but please use only one of these means. FMCSA 
recommends that you include your name and a mailing address, an email 
address, or a phone number in the body of your document so that FMCSA 
can contact you if there are questions regarding your submission.
    To submit your comment online, go to http://www.regulations.gov and 
in the search box insert the docket numbers FMCSA-2001-11426; FMCSA-
2002-12844; FMCSA-2003-16564; FMCSA-2005-22194; FMCSA-2005-22727; 
FMCSA-2005-23099; FMCSA-2007-0071; FMCSA-2007-27897; FMCSA-2009-0206; 
FMCSA-2009-0291; FMCSA-2009-0321; FMCSA-2011-0140; FMCSA-2011-0141; 
FMCSA-2011-0325; FMCSA-2011-0365; FMCSA-2011-0366; FMCSA-2013-0167; 
FMCSA-2013-0168; FMCSA-2013-0169; FMCSA-2013-0170; FMCSA-2013-0174 and 
click the search button. When the new screen appears, click on the blue 
``Comment Now!'' button on the right hand side of the page. On the new 
page, enter information required including the specific section of this 
document to which each comment applies, and provide a reason for each 
suggestion or recommendation. If you submit your comments by mail or 
hand delivery, submit them in an unbound format, no larger than 8\1/2\ 
by 11 inches, suitable for copying and electronic filing. If you submit 
comments by mail and would like to know that they reached the facility, 
please enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard or envelope.
    We will consider all comments and material received during the 
comment period and may change this proposed rule based on your 
comments. FMCSA may issue a final rule at any time after the close of 
the comment period.

Viewing Comments and Documents

    To view comments, as well as any documents mentioned in this 
preamble, To submit your comment online, go to http://www.regulations.gov and in the search box insert the docket number 
FMCSA-2001-11426; FMCSA-2002-12844; FMCSA-2003-16564; FMCSA-2005-22194; 
FMCSA-2005-22727; FMCSA-2005-23099; FMCSA-2007-0071; FMCSA-2007-27897; 
FMCSA-2009-0206; FMCSA-2009-0291; FMCSA-2009-0321; FMCSA-2011-0140; 
FMCSA-2011-0141; FMCSA-2011-0325; FMCSA-2011-0365; FMCSA-2011-0366; 
FMCSA-2013-0167; FMCSA-2013-0168; FMCSA-2013-0169; FMCSA-2013-0170; 
FMCSA-2013-0174 and click ``Search.'' Next, click ``Open Docket 
Folder'' and you will find all documents and comments related to the 
proposed rulemaking.

    Issued on: March 31, 2016.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2016-08059 Filed 4-6-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P