[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 10 (Tuesday, January 16, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2309-2311]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-00586]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-1999-5578; FMCSA-1999-6480; FMCSA-2000-7165; FMCSA-
2001-9561; FMCSA-2003-15892; FMCSA-2005-21254; FMCSA-2005-21711; FMCSA-
2006-25246; FMCSA-2006-26066; FMCSA-2007-25246; FMCSA-2007-2663; FMCSA-
2007-27897; FMCSA-2009-0121; FMCSA-2009-0154; FMCSA-2011-0024; FMCSA-
2011-0092; FMCSA-2011-0140; FMCSA-2011-0142; FMCSA-2011-0189; FMCSA-
2013-0026; FMCSA-2013-0027; FMCSA-2013-0029; FMCSA-2013-0030; FMCSA-
2013-0165; FMCSA-2014-0300; FMCSA-2014-0302; FMCSA-2014-0304; FMCSA-
2014-0305; FMCSA-2015-0049; FMCSA-2015-0052; FMCSA-2015-0053; FMCSA-
2015-0055]


Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Vision

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

ACTION: Notice of final disposition.

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

SUMMARY: FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for 86 
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 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 p.m., 
ET, 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., ET, 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 October 11, 2017, FMCSA published a notice announcing its 
decision to renew exemptions for 86 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 (82 FR 47312). The 
public comment period ended on November 13, 2017, 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.

VI. Conclusion

    Based upon its evaluation of the 86 renewal exemption applications 
and comments received, FMCSA confirms its' decision to exempt the 
following drivers from the vision requirement in 49 CFR 391.41 (b)(10):
    In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315, the following 
groups of drivers received renewed exemptions in the month of October 
and are discussed below:
    As of October 3, 2017, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) 
and

[[Page 2310]]

31315, the following 54 individuals have satisfied the renewal 
conditions for obtaining an exemption from the vision requirement in 
the FMCSRs for interstate CMV drivers (65 FR 33406; 65 FR 57234; 66 FR 
30502; 66 FR 41654; 68 FR 13360; 68 FR 44837; 70 FR 12265; 70 FR 41811; 
71 FR 63379; 72 FR 180; 72 FR 1051; 72 FR 8417; 72 FR 9397; 72 FR 
27624; 72 FR 36099; 72 FR 39879; 72 FR 40362; 72 FR 52419; 73 FR 78423; 
74 FR 19270; 74 FR 26461; 74 FR 26466; 74 FR 34395; 74 FR 34630; 74 FR 
37295; 74 FR 41971; 74 FR 48343; 74 FR 6211; 75 FR 79083; 76 FR 17481; 
76 FR 25762; 76 FR 25766; 76 FR 28125; 76 FR 37169; 76 FR 37885; 76 FR 
44652; 76 FR 44653; 76 FR 49528; 76 FR 50318; 76 FR 53708; 76 FR 54530; 
76 FR 61143; 77 FR 74734; 78 FR 4531; 78 FR 22598; 78 FR 24300; 78 FR 
24798; 78 FR 34143; 78 FR 37270; 78 FR 37274; 78 FR 41975; 78 FR 46407; 
78 FR 52602; 78 FR 56986; 78 FR 56993; 78 FR 77782; 78 FR 78477; 79 FR 
4531; 79 FR 53708; 79 FR 73686; 80 FR 2473; 80 FR 12248; 80 FR 14223; 
80 FR 18693; 80 FR 22773; 80 FR 29152; 80 FR 31635; 80 FR 31636; 80 FR 
33011; 80 FR 35699; 80 FR 36395; 80 FR 37718; 80 FR 40122; 80 FR 41547; 
80 FR 44188; 80 FR 45573; 80 FR 48402; 80 FR 48404; 80 FR 48411; 80 FR 
48413; 80 FR 49302; 80 FR 50917; 80 FR 59225; 80 FR 62161; 80 FR 
62163):

Deneris G. Allen (LA)
Michael J. Altobelli (CT)
Joel D. Barchard (MA)
Rocky B. Bentz (WI)
Keith A. Bliss (NY)
Ronald Bostick (SC)
Steven J. Brauer (NJ)
Jean-Pierre G. Brefort (CT)
Michael W. Britt (MD)
Shaun E. Burnett (MO)
Kevin W. Cannon (TX)
Juan R. Cano (TX)
Charles C. Chapman (NC)
Thomas W. Crouch (IN)
Verlin L. Driskell (NE)
Robin C. Duckett (SC)
Phillip Ergovich (MO)
Dan J. Feik (IL)
Saul E. Fierro (AZ)
Steven A. Garrity (MA)
Mark E. Gessner (FL)
David B. Ginther (PA)
Dominic F. Giordano (CT)
Enrique F. Gonzalez (NC)
Donald A. Hall (NC)
Willard D. Hall (CA)
Dennis H. Heller (KS)
Steven C. Holland (OK)
Ronald E. Howard (PA)
Michael A. Kelly (TX)
Abdullah T. Khalil (VA)
Jorge Lopez (OH)
Alex P. Makhanov (WA)
Michael L. Martin (OH)
Phillip P. Mazza (WI)
Lawrence McGowan (OH)
John T. McWilliams (IA)
Dionicio Mendoza (TX)
Garth R. Mero (VT)
Charles A. Morgan (NC)
Willam V. Nickel (OR)
Russell W. Nutter (OH)
Nathan Pettis (FL)
Mark A. Pirl (NC)
Timmy J. Pottebaum (IA)
Jason W. Rupp (PA)
Ricky J. Sanderson (UT)
Kirby R. Sands (IA)
Manjinder Singh (WA)
Steven W. Stull (IL)
Richard G. Vaughn (NC)
Victor H. Vera (TX)
Bruce W. Williams (IL)

    The drivers were included in docket numbers FMCSA-2000-7165; FMCSA-
2001-9561; FMCSA-2006-25246; FMCSA-2006-26066; FMCSA-2007-25246; FMCSA-
2007-2663; FMCSA-2007-27897; FMCSA-2009-0121; FMCSA-2009-0154; FMCSA-
2011-0024; FMCSA-2011-0092; FMCSA-2011-0140; FMCSA-2011-0142; FMCSA-
2013-0026; FMCSA-2013-0027; FMCSA-2013-0029; FMCSA-2013-0030; FMCSA-
2014-0300; FMCSA-2014-0302; FMCSA-2014-0304; FMCSA-2014-0305; FMCSA-
2015-0049; FMCSA-2015-0052; FMCSA-2015-0053; FMCSA-2015-0055. Their 
exemptions are applicable as of October 3, 2017, and will expire on 
October 3, 2019.
    As of October 23, 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 vision requirements (78 
FR 47818; 78 FR 63307; 80 FR 59225):

Larry E. Blakely (GA)
Britt A. Green (ND)
Arlene S. Kent (NH)
Willie L. Murphy (IN)
Joseph J. Pudlik (IL)
Jeffrey R. Swett (SC)
Brian C. Tate (VA)

    The drivers were included in docket number FMCSA-2013-0165. Their 
exemptions are applicable as of October 23, 2017, and will expire on 
October 23, 2019.
    As of October 24, 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 vision requirements (64 
FR 27027; 64 FR 51568; 66 FR 30502; 66 FR 41654; 66 FR 48504; 68 FR 
44837; 68 FR 54775; 70 FR 30999; 70 FR 41811; 70 FR 46567; 70 FR 48797; 
70 FR 53412; 70 FR 61493; 72 FR 39879; 72 FR 40359; 72 FR 52421; 72 FR 
54971; 72 FR 62896; 74 FR 34074; 74 FR 41971; 74 FR 43221; 74 FR 49069; 
76 FR 55467; 76 FR 62143; 78 FR 77782; 80 FR 59225):

Calvin D. Atwood (NM)
Andrew B. Clayton (TN)
William P. Doolittle (MO)
Richard L. Gagnebin (KS)
Jonathan M. Gentry (TN)
Benny D. Hatton, Jr. (NY)
Robert W. Healey, Jr. (NJ)
Nathaniel H. Herbert, Jr. (PA)
Thomas W. Markham (MN)
Kevin L. Moody (OH)
Charles W. Mullenix (GA)
Garry L. Rogers (CO)
Gary M. Wolff (IL)
John C. Young (VA)

    The drivers were included in docket numbers FMCSA-1999-5578; FMCSA-
2001-9561; FMCSA-2005-21254; FMCSA-2005-21711; FMCSA-2007-27897. Their 
exemptions are applicable as of October 24, 2017, and will expire on 
October 24, 2019.
    As of October 30, 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 vision requirements (64 
FR 68195; 65 FR 20251; 67 FR 17102; 68 FR 52811; 68 FR 61860; 70 FR 
61165; 71 FR 63379; 72 FR 1050; 74 FR 49069; 74 FR 53581; 76 FR 64171; 
78 FR 68137; 80 FR 59225):

James D. Davis (OH)
Dewayne E. Harms (IL)
David F. LeClerc (MN)
Jesse L. Townsend (LA)
Humberto A. Valles (TX)
James A. Welch (NH)
Michael E. Yount (ID)

    The drivers were included in docket numbers FMCSA-1999-6480; FMCSA-
2003-15892; FMCSA-2006-26066. Their exemptions are applicable as of 
October 30, 2017, and will expire on October 30, 2019.
    As of October 31, 2017, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) 
and 31315, the following four individuals have satisfied the renewal 
conditions for obtaining an exemption from the vision requirements (76 
FR 55465; 76 FR 67246; 78 FR 77782; 80 FR 59225):

Darrell G. Anthony (TX)
Harold L. Pearsall (PA)
Phillip M. Pridgen, Sr. (MD)
Gerald D. Stidham (CO)

    The drivers were included in docket number FMCSA-2011-0189. Their 
exemptions are applicable as of October 31, 2017, and will expire on 
October 31, 2019.
    In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31315, each exemption will be valid 
for two years from the effective date unless

[[Page 2311]]

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: January 5, 2018.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2018-00586 Filed 1-12-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P