[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 239 (Tuesday, December 13, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 90053-90054]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-29832]



[[Page 90053]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-1999-5748; FMCSA-1999-6156; FMCSA-1999-6480; FMCSA-
2001-11426; FMCSA-2003-15892; FMCSA-2003-16241; FMCSA-2003-16564; 
FMCSA-2005-22194; FMCSA-2005-23099; FMCSA-2005-23238; FMCSA-2006-23773; 
FMCSA-2007-0071; FMCSA-2007-28695; FMCSA-2008-0231; FMCSA-2009-0011; 
FMCSA-2009-0086; FMCSA-2009-0154; FMCSA-2009-0291; FMCSA-2009-0321; 
FMCSA-2011-0299; FMCSA-2011-0324; FMCSA-2011-0365; FMCSA-2011-0366; 
FMCSA-2011-0378; FMCSA-2013-0170; FMCSA-2014-0002]


Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Vision

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

ACTION: Notice of final disposition.

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SUMMARY: FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for 87 
individuals from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier 
Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) for interstate commercial motor vehicle 
(CMV) drivers. The exemptions enable these individuals to continue to 
operate CMVs in interstate commerce without meeting the vision 
requirement in one eye.

DATES: Each group of renewed exemptions was effective on the dates 
stated in the discussions below and will expire on the dates stated in 
the discussions below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Christine A. Hydock, Chief, 
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., 
e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. If you have 
questions regarding viewing or submitting material to the docket, 
contact Docket Services, telephone (202) 366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Electronic Access

    You may see all the comments online through the Federal Document 
Management System (FDMS) at: http://www.regulations.gov.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments, go to http//www.regulations.gov and/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., e.t., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays.
    Privacy Act: In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits 
comments from the public to better inform its rulemaking process. DOT 
posts these comments, without edit, including any personal information 
the commenter provides, to http://www.regulations.gov, as described in 
the system of records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed 
at http://www.dot.gov/privacy.

II. Background

    On April 7, 2016, FMCSA published a notice announcing its decision 
to renew exemptions for 87 individuals from the vision requirement in 
49 CFR 391.41(b)(10) to operate a CMV in interstate commerce and 
requested comments from the public (81 FR 20435). The public comment 
period ended on May 9, 2016, and no comments were received.
    As stated in the previous notice, FMCSA has evaluated the 
eligibility of these applicants and determined that renewing these 
exemptions would achieve a level of safety equivalent to or greater 
than the level that would be achieved by complying with the current 
regulation 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10).
    The physical qualification standard for drivers regarding vision 
found in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10) states that a person is physically 
qualified to driver a CMV if that person:

    Has distant visual acuity of at least 20/40 (Snellen) in each 
eye without corrective lenses or visual acuity separately corrected 
to 20/40 (Snellen) or better with corrective lenses, distant 
binocular acuity of a least 20/40 (Snellen) in both eyes with or 
without corrective lenses, field of vision of at least 70[deg] in 
the horizontal meridian in each eye, and the ability to recognize 
the colors of traffic signals and devices showing red, green, and 
amber.

III. Discussion of Comments

    FMCSA received no comments in this preceding.

IV. Conclusion

    Based upon its evaluation of the 87 renewal exemption applications 
and that no comments were received, FMCSA confirms its decision to 
exempt the following drivers from the vision requirement in 49 CFR 
391.41 (b)(10), subject to the requirements cited above:
    As of April 12, 2016, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 
31315, the following 13 individuals have satisfied the conditions for 
obtaining a renewed exemption from the vision requirements (68 FR 
61857; 68 FR 75715; 71 FR 644; 72 FR 46261; 72 FR 54972; 73 FR 8392; 73 
FR 46973; 73 FR 54888; 74 FR 19267; 74 FR 28094; 74 FR 37295; 74 FR 
57553; 74 FR 60021; 75 FR 8184; 76 FR 8809; 76 FR 44652; 76 FR 70210; 
76 FR 70212; 76 FR 73769; 77 FR 3547; 77 FR 5874; 77 FR 7233; 77 FR 
7657; 77 FR 17117; 77 FR 17119; 77 FR 22059; 77 FR 22061; 78 FR 66099; 
78 FR 67455; 79 FR 2248; 79 FR 4805; 79 FR 13085; 79 FR 14328; 79 FR 
14332; 79 FR 18390):

Brian F. Denning (CA)
James Esposito, Jr. (PA)
Keith J. Haaf (VA)
Lowell Johnson (MN)
Chet A. Keen (UT)
Allen J. Kunze (ND)
Craig R. Martin (TX)
Daniel I. Miller (PA)
Jason E. Mallette (MS)
John W. Myre (SD)
Ezequiel M. Ramirez (TX)
Mark A. Smalls (GA)
Greg W. Story (NC)

    The drivers were included in one of the following dockets: Docket 
Nos. FMCSA-2003-16241; FMCSA-2007-28695; FMCSA-2008-0231; FMCSA-2009-
0086; FMCSA-2009-0154; FMCSA-2011-0299; FMCSA-2011-0324; FMCSA-2011-
0366; FMCSA-2013-0170. Their exemptions are effective as of April 12, 
2016 and will expire on April 12, 2018.
    As of April 14, 2016, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 
31315, the following 19 individuals have satisfied the conditions for 
obtaining a renewed exemption from the vision requirements (64 FR 
40404; 64 FR 54948; 64 FR 66962; 64 FR 68195; 65 FR 159; 65 FR 20251; 
66 FR 66969; 67 FR 10475; 67 FR 17102; 68 FR 61860; 68 FR 69432; 68 FR 
74699; 68 FR 75715; 69 FR 10503; 69 FR 17267; 69 FR 8260; 70 FR 57353; 
70 FR 72689; 71 FR 4194; 71 FR 5105; 71 FR 6824; 71 FR 6825; 71 FR 
6826; 71 FR 13450; 71 FR 16410; 71 FR 19600; 71 FR 19602; 73 FR 8392; 
73 FR 11989; 74 FR 60022; 75 FR 1835; 75 FR 4623; 75 FR 9482; 75 FR 
13653; 77 FR 17107; 79 FR 18391):

Bradley T. Alspach (IL)
Scott E. Ames (ME)
Nick D. Bacon (KY)
Mark A. Baisden (OH)
Johnny W. Bradford, Sr. (KY)
Levi A. Brown (MT)
Charlie F. Cook (GA)
Curtis J. Crowston (ND)
Rupert G. Gilmore III (AL)
Albert L. Gschwind (WI)
Walter R. Hardiman (WV)
Michael W. Jones (IL)
Matthew J. Konecki (MT)
Jack D. Miller (OH)
Eric M. Moats, Sr. (MD)
Robert W. Nicks (NY)
Joseph S. Nix, IV (MO)

[[Page 90054]]

Robert V. Sloan (NC)
Steven L. Valley (ME)

    The drivers were included in one of the following dockets: Docket 
No. FMCSA-1999-5748; FMCSA-1999-6156; FMCSA-1999-6480; FMCSA-2003-
15892; FMCSA-2003-16564; FMCSA-2005-22194; FMCSA-2005-23099; FMCSA-
2005-23238; FMCSA-2006-23773; FMCSA-2009-0321. Their exemptions are 
effective as of April 14, 2016 and will expire on April 14, 2018.
    As of April 16, 2016, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 
31315, Glen A. Schroeder (SD), has satisfied the conditions for 
obtaining a renewed exemption from the vision requirements (79 FR 
10611; 79 FR 22003).
    This driver was included in the following docket: Docket No. FMCSA-
2014-0002. The exemption is effective as of April 16, 2016 and will 
expire on April 16, 2018.
    As of April 17, 2016, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 
31315, the following 7 individuals have satisfied the conditions for 
obtaining a renewed exemption from the vision requirements (77 FR 
19749; 77 FR 22838; 79 FR 15794):

Robert J. Abbas (MN)
Paul T. Browning (MT)
Kevan J. Larson (ID)
Gilbert M. Rosas (AZ)
Kim A. Shaffer (PA)
Larry W. Slinker (VA)
Lonnie J. Supanchick (NV)

    The drivers were included in one of the following dockets: Docket 
No. FMCSA-2011-0378. Their exemptions are effective as of April 17, 
2016 and will expire on April 17, 2018.
    As of April 18, 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 (79 FR 
10606; 79 FR 10607; 79 FR 10608; 79 FR 10609; 79 FR 10610; 79 FR 10611; 
79 FR 22003):

John M. Alfano (MI)
Felipe Bayron (WI)
Thomas Benavidez, Jr. (ID)
Gary A. Budde (IL)
Mark Castleman (MN)
Lorimer Christianson (IA)
David L. Dykes (FL)
Daniel Fedder (IL)
Edward A. Flitton (UT)
Juan Gallo-Gomez (CT)
Andeberhan O. Gidey (WA)
Luis Gomez-Banda (NV)
Christopher Goodwin (NC)
David Knobloch (MI)
Gregory L. Kockelman (MN)
Mark La Fleur (MD)
Jerry P. Lindesmith (OK)
Dennis A. Lindner (MN)
John Murray (WA)
Michael Nichols (GA)
Dino J. Pires (CT)
Anthony S. Poindexter (MD)
Phil N. Schad (MO)
Glen A. Schroeder (OR)
John B. Theres (IL)
Robert S. Waltz (ME)
Willard H. Weerts (IL)

    The drivers were included on the following docket: Docket No. 
FMCSA-2014-0002. Their exemptions are effective as of April 18, 2016 
and will expire on April 18, 2018.
    As of April 23, 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 
10471; 67 FR 19798; 68 FR 61857; 68 FR 74699; 68 FR 75715; 69 FR 19611; 
71 FR 6825; 71 FR 6829; 71 FR 19604; 72 FR 46261; 72 FR 54972; 72 FR 
71993; 73 FR 15254; 73 FR 16950; 74 FR 57553; 74 FR 65842; 75 FR 1835; 
75 FR 9478; 75 FR 9482; 75 FR 20881; 77 FR 7657; 77 FR 10604; 77 FR 
13689; 77 FR 17115; 77 FR 22059):

Lyle H. Banser (WI)
Cary Carn (NJ)
Charley J. Davis (OK)
Derek T. Ford (MD)
Thomas R. Hedden (IL)
Earl R. Mark (IL)
Richard K. Mell (VA)
Douglas A. Mendoza (MD)
Russell L. Moyers, Sr. (WV)
Danny Rolfe (ME)
Donald Schaeffer (MO)

    The drivers were included in one of the following dockets: Docket 
No. FMCSA-2001-11426; FMCSA-2003-16241; FMCSA-2003-16564; FMCSA-2007-
0071; FMCSA-2007-28695; FMCSA-2009-0291; FMCSA-2009-0321; FMCSA-2011-
0324. Their exemptions are effective as of April 23, 2016 and will 
expire on April 23, 2018.
    As of April 27, 2016, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 
31315, the following 9 individuals have satisfied the conditions for 
obtaining a renewed exemption from the vision requirements (75 FR 9480; 
75 FR 22176; 77 FR 3552; 77 FR 13691; 77 FR 17108; 79 FR 17642; 79 FR 
17643):

Chad L. Burnham (ME)
Loren D. Chapman (MN)
David A. Christenson (NV)
John T. Edmondson (AL)
Paul K. Leger (NH)
Martin L. Reyes (IL)
Gerald L. Rush, Jr. (NJ)
Alan T. Watterson (MA)
Larry W. Winkler (MO)

    The drivers were included in one of the following dockets: Docket 
No. FMCSA-2009-0011; FMCSA-2011-0365. Their exemptions are effective as 
of April 27, 2016 and will expire on April 27, 2018.
    In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31315, each exemption will be valid 
for two years from the effective date unless revoked earlier by FMCSA. 
The exemption will be revoked if the following occurs: (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 
prior to being granted; or (3) continuation of the exemption would not 
be consistent with the goals and objectives of 49 U.S.C. 31136 and 
31315.

    Issued on: December 2, 2016.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2016-29832 Filed 12-12-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P