[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 195 (Wednesday, October 11, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47292-47294]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-21901]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2009-0155; FMCSA-2011-0125; FMCSA-2011-0144; FMCSA-
2011-0145; FMCSA-2013-0019; FMCSA-2013-0181; FMCSA-2015-0062; FMCSA-
2015-0063]


Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Diabetes

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 127 
individuals from its prohibition in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety 
Regulations (FMCSRs) against persons with insulin-treated diabetes 
mellitus (ITDM) from operating commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in 
interstate commerce. The exemptions enable these individuals with ITDM 
to continue to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

DATES: Each group of renewed exemptions were applicable 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 5:30 
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 July 27, 2017, FMCSA published a notice announcing its decision 
to renew exemptions for 127 individuals from the insulin-treated 
diabetes mellitus prohibition in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(3) to operate a CMV 
in interstate commerce and requested comments from the public (82 FR 
35029). The public comment period ended on August 28, 2017, and one 
comment was 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)(3).
    The physical qualification standard for drivers regarding diabetes 
found in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(3) states that a person is physically 
qualified to drive a CMV if that person:

    Has no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of 
diabetes mellitus currently requiring insulin for control.

III. Discussion of Comments

    FMCSA received one comment in this preceding. An anonymous 
commenter stated they believe the rule preventing drivers with ITDM 
operating CMVs in interstate commerce should be removed and the medical 
examiners should determine whether a driver is fit to operate a CMV in 
interstate commerce. On May 4, 2015, FMCSA published a Notice of 
Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) (80 FR 25260) proposing changes to the 
Diabetes standard and requesting comments from the public. FMCSA is 
currently evaluating comments received and drafting a Final Rule. 
Information related to this action can be found in the Docket at FMCSA-
2005-23151.

IV. Conclusion

    Based upon its evaluation of the 127 renewal exemption applications 
and comments received, FMCSA announces its' decision to exempt the 
following drivers from the rule prohibiting drivers with ITDM from 
driving CMVs in interstate commerce in 49 CFR 391.64(3):
    As of August 1, 2017, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 
31315, the following 35 individuals have satisfied the renewal 
conditions for obtaining an exemption from the rule prohibiting drivers 
with ITDM from driving CMVs in interstate commerce (80 FR 37719; 80 FR 
59223):

Adele M. Aasen (ND)
Kyle E. Beine (WI)
Joseph M. Blackwell (GA)
Joseph G. Blastick (SD)
Gary W. Boninsegna (OH)
Billy J. Bronson (OR)
Michael L. Campbell (NC)
Steven C. Cornell (PA)
Josiah L. Crestik (MN)
Richard L. Cunningham (NE)
Thomas M. Delasko (FL)
William T. Eason (NC)
Douglas J. Garrison (IA)
Daniel W. Gregory (NC)
Barry L. Grimes, Sr. (MD)
Dennis J. Grimm (DE)

[[Page 47293]]

Stephen G. Helmer (NE)
Marco K. Higgs (OR)
Jeffrey T. Hunley (NC)
Colin S. Jackson (WA)
Peter E. Mizialko (NJ)
Michael I. Moore (IN)
Richard M. Ohland (MN)
James D. Parrish (NC)
Justin D. Redding (MT)
Alex R. Rumph (MT)
Kenneth S. Schoenberger (PA)
Jarred E. Shawles (CA)
Howard L. Smith (IL)
Jeffrey S. Snyder (PA)
Jerry L. Stevens (NE)
Todd Stover (PA)
Dennis P. Walker, Jr. (OH)
Horace V. Watson (GA)
Jeremy W. Wolfe (MO)

    The drivers were included in docket number FMCSA-2015-0062. Their 
exemptions are applicable as of August 1, 2017, and will expire on 
August 1, 2019.
    As of August 3, 2017, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 
31315, the following seven individuals have satisfied the renewal 
conditions for obtaining an exemption from the rule prohibiting drivers 
with ITDM from driving CMVs in interstate commerce (74 FR 28097; 74 FR 
38481):

Joseph Jurewicz (CT)
Dana N. Larsen (UT)
Jason G. Leavitt (UT)
Thomas M. Petee (MI)
Jim A. Phelps (MI)
James F. Rabideau, Jr. (NY)
John E. Spano (MA)

    The drivers were included in docket number FMCSA-2009-0155. Their 
exemptions are applicable as of August 3, 2017, and will expire on 
August 3, 2019.
    As of August 4, 2017, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 
31315, the following eight individuals have satisfied the renewal 
conditions for obtaining an exemption from the rule prohibiting drivers 
with ITDM from driving CMVs in interstate commerce (76 FR 34127; 76 FR 
47288):

Richard A. Bosma (IL)
Ronnie E. Combs, Jr. (KY)
Barbara A. Farrell (WA)
Tony D. Gayles (KY)
Joshua D. Kohl (IA)
Judah A. Nell (PA)
Peter J. Wasko, Jr. (PA)
Alfred Zaldana (CA)

    The drivers were included in docket number FMCSA-2011-0125. Their 
exemptions are applicable as of August 4, 2017, and will expire on 
August 4, 2019.
    As of August 5, 2017, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 
31315, the following ten individuals have satisfied the renewal 
conditions for obtaining an exemption from the rule prohibiting drivers 
with ITDM from driving CMVs in interstate commerce (76 FR 34127; 76 FR 
47288):

Justin C. Brewer (NY)
Roger W. Carr (MD)
Stanley D. Ingram (TN)
Rondal W. Kennedy (KY)
Jerry W. Miller (VA)
Gregg O. Price (MS)
Gary D. Pugliese (NJ)
Jeffrey A. Radel (PA)
Vladmir V. Tayts (PA)
Jady R. Tengs (ID)

    The drivers were included in docket number FMCSA-2011-0144. Their 
exemptions are applicable as of August 5, 2017, and will expire on 
August 5, 2019.
    As of August 15, 2017, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) 
and 31315, the following 43 individuals have satisfied the renewal 
conditions for obtaining an exemption from the rule prohibiting drivers 
with ITDM from driving CMVs in interstate commerce (80 FR 41550; 80 FR 
59229):

Henry Andreoli (NH)
Jonathan A. Boston (NY)
James G. Bracegirdle (GA)
Joseph C. Brewster (VA)
Bradley R. Brown (NH)
Annette F. Bryant (CA)
Brian G. Carter (GA)
Daniel B. Craig (OR)
Sean W. Dempsey (OH)
Patrick L. Feely (MN)
Garry W. Garrison (WI)
James Gennello (NJ)
John T. Gorman (NJ)
Joel K. Hawkins (IL)
Gary L. Hulslander (PA)
Daniel E. Jackowski (WI)
John W. Johnson (TN)
Samuel S. Johnson (WI)
Charles A. Kelley (IA)
Omer E. King (PA)
Eric R. Knutson (MN)
Bruce E. Koehn (KS)
Douglas L. Kugler (MN)
Andrew S. McKinney (MN)
Douglas D. Miller (WY)
Robert F. Perez (PA)
Ray E. Phipps (IL)
Bruce F. Sanderson (LA)
Raymond Santiago (NJ)
Travis D. Shadden (IN)
Randy S. Steinbach (WA)
Paul R. Thorkelson (MN)
Michael J. Toth (PA)
Christopher O. Trent (KS)
Charles H. Turner (WI)
Jesse W. Turner (MI)
Donavan A. Van Houten (WA)
Matt S. Volk (NE)
Daniel M. Waldner (ND)
Timothy L. Wilkinson (OH)
Catherine A. Wilcox (CT)
Kenneth P. Wing (MI)
Timothy W. Young (PA)

    The drivers were included in docket number FMCSA-2015-0063. Their 
exemptions are applicable as of August 15, 2017, and will expire on 
August 15, 2019.
    As of August 16, 2017, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) 
and 31315, the following 14 individuals have satisfied the renewal 
conditions for obtaining an exemption from the rule prohibiting drivers 
with ITDM from driving CMVs in interstate commerce (78 FR 32704; 78 FR 
50140):

Herlen D. Barner (TN)
James W. Bledsoe (AL)
Daniel L. Bosley (KY)
Verland G. Casper (WI)
Kyle P. Cerra (PA)
Raymond K. Harper (KS)
Shane B. Henninger (IA)
Jeffrey S. Hubbell (PA)
Kevin T. Johnson (SD)
Randall L. Krider (IN)
William J. Panoch (WI)
James E. Smith (TN)
Kevin R. Treichel (IA)
Thomas R. Yecker (PA)

    The drivers were included in docket number FMCSA-2013-0019. Their 
exemptions are applicable as of August 16, 2017, and will expire on 
August 16, 2019.
    As of August 29, 2017, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) 
and 31315, the following nine individuals have satisfied the renewal 
conditions for obtaining an exemption from the rule prohibiting drivers 
with ITDM from driving CMVs in interstate commerce (76 FR 40439; 76 FR 
53707):

Bryan K. Aaron (UT)
Donald M. Bergman (MN)
Ronald J. Boehm (IN)
Vernon W. Elmore (MS)
Michael J. Gilbert (WA)
Andrew W. Richey (MS)
Thomas M. Shafer (IN)
Allen D. Stevenson (NJ)
Oleg Tarasov (NJ)

    The drivers were included in docket number FMCSA-2011-0145. Their 
exemptions are applicable as of August 29, 2017, and will expire on 
August 29, 2019.
    As of August 30, 2017, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) 
and 31315, Lloyd K. Steinkamp (WV) has satisfied the renewal conditions 
for obtaining an exemption from the rule prohibiting drivers with ITDM 
from driving CMVs in interstate commerce (78 FR 38435; 78 FR 63294).
    The driver was included in docket number FMCSA-2013-0181. The 
exemption is applicable as of August 30,

[[Page 47294]]

2017, and will expire on August 30, 2019.
    In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31315, each exemption will be valid 
for two years from the applicable 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: October 2, 2017.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2017-21901 Filed 10-10-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P