[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 140 (Friday, July 20, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34672-34674]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-15553]



[[Page 34672]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-1999-6480; FMCSA-2001-11426; FMCSA-2002-11714; FMCSA-
2002-12844; FMCSA-2003-15268; FMCSA-2003-16564; FMCSA-2004-19477; 
FMCSA-2006-23773; FMCSA-2006-24015; FMCSA-2007-0071; FMCSA-2007-27897; 
FMCSA-2008-0021; FMCSA-2009-0011; FMCSA-2009-0291; FMCSA-2009-0321; 
FMCSA-2010-0050; FMCSA-2011-0140; FMCSA-2011-0365; FMCSA-2011-0366; 
FMCSA-2011-0379; FMCSA-2011-0380; FMCSA-2012-0039; FMCSA-2013-0027; 
FMCSA-2013-0030; FMCSA-2013-0165; FMCSA-2013-0166; FMCSA-2013-0167; 
FMCSA-2013-0168; FMCSA-2013-0169; FMCSA-2013-0170; FMCSA-2013-0174; 
FMCSA-2014-0002; FMCSA-2014-0003; FMCSA-2014-0004; FMCSA-2015-0049; 
FMCSA-2015-0053; FMCSA-2015-0056; FMCSA-2015-0070; FMCSA-2015-0072; 
FMCSA-2015-0345; FMCSA-2015-0347; FMCSA-2015-0351; FMCSA-2016-0024; 
FMCSA-2016-0025]


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 119 
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., 
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 May 24, 2018, FMCSA published a notice announcing its decision 
to renew exemptions for 119 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 (64 FR 68195; 65 FR 20251; 67 FR 
10471; 67 FR 15662; 67 FR 17102; 67 FR 19798; 67 FR 37907; 67 FR 68719; 
68 FR 2629; 68 FR 37197; 68 FR 48989; 68 FR 74699; 69 FR 10503; 69 FR 
17267; 69 FR 19611; 69 FR 26206; 69 FR 64806; 69 FR 71100; 70 FR 2705; 
70 FR 42615; 71 FR 6826; 71 FR 6829; 71 FR 14566; 71 FR 16410; 71 FR 
19602; 71 FR 19604; 71 FR 26602; 71 FR 30227; 72 FR 1053; 72 FR 1054; 
72 FR 39879; 72 FR 40360; 72 FR 52419; 73 FR 6242; 73 FR 11989; 73 FR 
15567; 73 FR 16950; 73 FR 27014; 73 FR 27015; 73 FR 27017; 73 FR 76440; 
74 FR 26464; 74 FR 34632; 74 FR 41971; 74 FR 49069; 74 FR 64124; 74 FR 
65842; 75 FR 1835; 75 FR 9477; 75 FR 9480; 75 FR 9482; 75 FR 13653; 75 
FR 14656; 75 FR 19674; 75 FR 22176; 75 FR 27621; 75 FR 27622; 75 FR 
28684; 76 FR 37169; 76 FR 50318; 76 FR 54530; 76 FR 62143; 76 FR 70212; 
76 FR 78729; 77 FR 3552; 77 FR 5874; 77 FR 7233; 77 FR 10604; 77 FR 
13689; 77 FR 13691; 77 FR 15184; 77 FR 17107; 77 FR 17108; 77 FR 17117; 
77 FR 20879; 77 FR 23797; 77 FR 23800; 77 FR 26816; 77 FR 27849; 77 FR 
27850; 77 FR 31427; 78 FR 24798; 78 FR 41975; 78 FR 46407; 78 FR 47818; 
78 FR 56986; 78 FR 62935; 78 FR 63302; 78 FR 63307; 78 FR 64271; 78 FR 
64274; 78 FR 67454; 78 FR 67460; 78 FR 76395; 78 FR 77778; 78 FR 77780; 
78 FR 77782; 78 FR 78477; 79 FR 1908; 79 FR 2247; 79 FR 2748; 79 FR 
4803; 79 FR 10602; 79 FR 10607; 79 FR 10609; 79 FR 10611; 79 FR 13085; 
79 FR 14331; 79 FR 14333; 79 FR 14571; 79 FR 17641; 79 FR 17642; 79 FR 
17643; 79 FR 18391; 79 FR 18392; 79 FR 21996; 79 FR 22000; 79 FR 22003; 
79 FR 23797; 79 FR 28588; 79 FR 29498; 80 FR 31636; 80 FR 40122; 80 FR 
48413; 80 FR 59230; 80 FR 62163; 80 FR 63839; 80 FR 67476; 80 FR 67481; 
80 FR 70060; 80 FR 79414; 80 FR 80443; 81 FR 1284; 81 FR 1474; 81 FR 
15401; 81 FR 15404; 81 FR 16265; 81 FR 17237; 81 FR 20433; 81 FR 20435; 
81 FR 21647; 81 FR 21655; 81 FR 44680; 81 FR 48493; 81 FR 52516; 81 FR 
66718; 81 FR 91239; 81 FR 96196). The public comment period ended on 
June 25, 2018, 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 119 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 May and 
are discussed below:
    As of May 7, 2018, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 
31315, the following 46 individuals have satisfied the renewal 
conditions for obtaining an exemption from the vision requirement in 
the FMCSRs for interstate CMV drivers (68 FR 37197; 68 FR 48989; 69 FR 
64806; 70 FR 2705; 70 FR 42615; 71 FR 6826; 71 FR 19602; 72 FR 1054; 72 
FR 39879; 72 FR 40360; 72 FR 52419; 73 FR 6242; 73 FR 11989; 73 FR 
16950; 74 FR 26464; 74 FR 34632; 74 FR 41971; 74 FR 49069; 74 FR 64124; 
74 FR 65842; 75 FR 1835; 75 FR 9477; 75 FR 9480; 75 FR 9482; 75 FR 
13653; 75 FR 22176; 76 FR 37169; 76 FR 50318; 76 FR 54530;

[[Page 34673]]

76 FR 62143; 76 FR 70212; 76 FR 78729; 77 FR 3552; 77 FR 5874; 77 FR 
7233; 77 FR 10604; 77 FR 13689; 77 FR 13691; 77 FR 17107; 77 FR 17108; 
77 FR 17117; 78 FR 24798; 78 FR 41975; 78 FR 46407; 78 FR 47818; 78 FR 
56986; 78 FR 62935; 78 FR 63302; 78 FR 63307; 78 FR 64271; 78 FR 64274; 
78 FR 67454; 78 FR 67460; 78 FR 76395; 78 FR 77778; 78 FR 77780; 78 FR 
77782; 78 FR 78477; 79 FR 1908; 79 FR 2247; 79 FR 2748; 79 FR 4803; 79 
FR 10602; 79 FR 10607; 79 FR 10609; 79 FR 10611; 79 FR 13085; 79 FR 
14331; 79 FR 14333; 79 FR 17641; 79 FR 17642; 79 FR 17643; 79 FR 18391; 
79 FR 22003; 80 FR 31636; 80 FR 40122; 80 FR 48413; 80 FR 59230; 80 FR 
62163; 80 FR 63839; 80 FR 67476; 80 FR 67481; 80 FR 70060; 80 FR 79414; 
80 FR 80443; 81 FR 1284; 81 FR 1474; 81 FR 15401; 81 FR 15404; 81 FR 
16265; 81 FR 17237; 81 FR 20433; 81 FR 20435; 81 FR 44680; 81 FR 48493; 
81 FR 52516; 81 FR 91239):

David R. Alford (UT)
Bradley T. Alspach (IL)
Otto J. Ammer, Jr. (PA)
Terry L. Baker (KY)
Morris R. Beebe, II (CO)
Eugenio V. Bermudez (MA)
Dominic A. Berube (MA)
Troy C. Blackburn (OH)
Lester E. Burnes (NM)
Thomas F. Caithamer (IL)
Bruce A. Cameron (ND)
Freddie A. Carrasquillo (TX)
Mark Castleman (MN)
James A. Champion (WA)
Loren D. Chapman (MN)
Larry Chinn (WI)
Charles W. Cox (AR)
Walter F. Crean, III (CT)
Bryan K. Dalton (NC)
Vincent DeMedici (PA)
Johnny Dillard (SC)
John T. Edmondson (AL)
Kenneth J. Fisk (MI)
Brian W. Gillund (MN)
Patrick W. Griffin (OK)
Matt A. Guilmain (NH)
Raymond L. Herman (NY)
Elvin M. Hursh (PA)
James R. Leoffler (CO)
Melvin L. Lester (MS)
Jerry P. Lindesmith (OK)
Juan J. Luna (CA)
Stephen R. Marshall (MS)
Dale A. McCoy (ME)
Cole W. McLaughlin (SD)
John D. Morgan (PA)
Russell L. Moyers, Sr. (WV)
Ryan R. Ross (SC)
Steven C. Sheeder (IA)
Charles H. Strople (MA)
Eric Taniguchi (HI)
Robert L. Thies (IN)
Ronald L. Walker (FL)
Charles G. Warshun, Jr. (NY)
Alan T. Watterson (MA)
Oscar M. Wilkins (ME)

    The drivers were included in docket numbers FMCSA-2003-15268; 
FMCSA-2004-19477; FMCSA-2006-23773; FMCSA-2007-0071; FMCSA-2007-27897; 
FMCSA-2009-0011; FMCSA-2009-0291; FMCSA-2009-0321; FMCSA-2011-0140; 
FMCSA-2011-0365; FMCSA-2011-0366; FMCSA-2013-0027; FMCSA-2013-0030; 
FMCSA-2013-0165; FMCSA-2013-0166; FMCSA-2013-0167; FMCSA-2013-0168; 
FMCSA-2013-0169; FMCSA-2013-0170; FMCSA-2013-0174; FMCSA-2014-0002; 
FMCSA-2015-0049; FMCSA-2015-0053; FMCSA-2015-0056; FMCSA-2015-0070; 
FMCSA-2015-0072; FMCSA-2015-0345; FMCSA-2015-0347; FMCSA-2015-0351. 
Their exemptions are applicable as of May 7, 2018, and will expire on 
May 7, 2020.
    As of May 11, 2018, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 
31315, the following six individuals have satisfied the renewal 
conditions for obtaining an exemption from the vision requirement in 
the FMCSRs for interstate CMV drivers (77 FR 15184; 77 FR 27850; 79 FR 
21996; 81 FR 91239):

Robert L. Brauns (IA)
Clifford W. Doran, Jr. (NC)
Gelnn C. Grimm (NJ)
Richard A. Pucker (WI)
John M. Riley (AL)
Jeffery A. Sheets (AR)

    The drivers were included in docket numbers FMCSA-2011-0379; FMCSA-
2011-0380. Their exemptions are applicable as of May 11, 2018, and will 
expire on May 11, 2020.
    As of May 12, 2018, 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 requirement in 
the FMCSRs for interstate CMV drivers (67 FR 68719; 68 FR 2629; 68 FR 
74699; 69 FR 10503; 69 FR 71100; 71 FR 6826; 71 FR 6829; 71 FR 19602; 
72 FR 1053; 73 FR 11989; 73 FR 15567; 73 FR 27015; 73 FR 76440; 75 FR 
13653; 75 FR 19674; 77 FR 23797; 79 FR 23797; 81 FR 91239):

Leo G. Becker (KS)
Stanley W. Davis (TX)
Ray L. Emert (PA)
John W. Forgy (ID)
Neil W. Jennings (MO)
David A. Miller (NE)
Aaron S. Taylor (WI)

    The drivers were included in docket numbers FMCSA-2002-12844; 
FMCSA-2003-16564; FMCSA-2006-23773; FMCSA-2008-0021. Their exemptions 
are applicable as of May 12, 2018, and will expire on May 12, 2020.
    As of May 13, 2018, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 
31315, the following 11 individuals have satisfied the renewal 
conditions for obtaining an exemption from the vision requirement in 
the FMCSRs for interstate CMV drivers (81 FR 21647; 81 FR 21655; 81 FR 
66718):

Jose O. Arroyo (CA)
Ronald H. Carey (PA)
James T. Curtis (NM)
Mark E. Dow (VT)
Danny R. Floyd (OH)
William J. Krysinski (MN)
Bradley K. Linde (IA)
Scott A. Palmer (NY)
Colby T. Smith (UT)
Carl J. Warnecke (OH)
Edwin E. West (MO)

    The drivers were included in docket numbers FMCSA-2016-0024; FMCSA-
2016-0025. Their exemptions are applicable as of May 13, 2018, and will 
expire on May 13, 2020.
    As of May 16, 2018, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 
31315, the following 23 individuals have satisfied the renewal 
conditions for obtaining an exemption from the vision requirement in 
the FMCSRs for interstate CMV drivers (79 FR 14571; 79 FR 28588; 81 FR 
91239; 81 FR 96196):

Luis A. Agudo (MN)
Dmitriy D. Bayda (WA)
Billy D. Devine (WA)
James G. Donze (MO)
Jeffrey D. Duncan (IN)
Dennis A. Feather (SC)
Robert E. Johnston, Jr. (WA)
Gregory J. Kuhn (NE)
David W. Leach (IL)
Jason S. Logue (GA)
David F. Martin (NJ)
Martin L. Mayes (GA)
Daniel A. McNabb, Jr. (KS)
Phillip L. Mello (CA)
Robert L. Murray (IL)
Steve W. Quenzer (SD)
Bradley W. Reed (AL)
Erik M. Rice (TX)
Tatum R. Schmidt (IA)
Harry J. Scholl (PA)
Jacob A. Shaffer (PA)
James S. Smith (AR)
Steven S. Smith, Jr. (PA)

    The drivers were included in docket number FMCSA-2014-0003. Their 
exemptions are applicable as of May 16, 2018, and will expire on May 
16, 2020.
    As of May 21, 2018, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 
31315, the following three individuals have satisfied the renewal 
conditions for obtaining an exemption from the vision requirement in 
the FMCSRs for interstate CMV drivers (75 FR 9480; 75 FR 14656; 75 FR 
22176; 75 FR 28684; 77 FR 23800; 79 FR 22000; 81 FR 91239): Herbert C. 
Hirsch, (MO); Douglas L. Norman, (NC); Wayne J. Savage, (VA).

[[Page 34674]]

    The drivers were included in docket numbers FMCSA-2009-0011; FMCSA-
2010-0050. Their exemptions are applicable as of May 21, 2018, and will 
expire on May 21, 2020.
    As of May 22, 2018, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 
31315, the following 13 individuals have satisfied the renewal 
conditions for obtaining an exemption from the vision requirement in 
the FMCSRs for interstate CMV drivers (79 FR 18392; 79 FR 29498; 81 FR 
91239):

James E. Baker (OH)
Aaron D. Barnett (IA)
Danny J. Goss (MO)
James P. Griffin (WA)
Dennis P. Hart (OR)
James D. Kessler (SD)
Sherell J. Landry (TX)
Ronald N. Lindgren (MN)
Rodney J. McMorran (IA)
John L. Meese (MO)
Michael E. Schlachter (WY)
Kenneth W. Sigl (WI)
Elmer F. Winters (NC)

    The drivers were included in docket number FMCSA-2014-0004. Their 
exemptions are applicable as of May 22, 2018, and will expire on May 
22, 2020.
    As of May 25, 2018, 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 requirement in 
the FMCSRs for interstate CMV drivers (64 FR 68195; 65 FR 20251; 67 FR 
10471; 67 FR 17102; 67 FR 19798; 69 FR 17267; 69 FR 19611; 71 FR 14566; 
71 FR 16410; 71 FR 19604; 71 FR 30227; 73 FR 27014; 75 FR 27622; 77 FR 
20879; 77 FR 26816; 77 FR 31427; 81 FR 91239):

Edward W. Hosier (MO)
Craig T. Jorgensen (WI)
Jose A. Lopez (CT)
Earl E. Martin (VA)
Joseph C. Powell (VA)
David L. Schachle (PA)
Mark Sobczyk (WI)

    The drivers were included in docket numbers FMCSA-1999-6480; FMCSA-
2001-11426; FMCSA-2006-24015; FMCSA-2012-0039. Their exemptions are 
applicable as of May 25, 2018, and will expire on May 25, 2020.
    As of May 30, 2018, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 
31315, the following three individuals have satisfied the renewal 
conditions for obtaining an exemption from the vision requirement in 
the FMCSRs for interstate CMV drivers (67 FR 15662; 67 FR 37907; 69 FR 
26206; 71 FR 26602; 73 FR 27017; 75 FR 27621; 77 FR 27849; 81 FR 
91239): Joe W. Brewer, (SC); James W. Ellis, 4th, (NJ); Kevin R. 
Stoner, (PA).
    The drivers were included in docket number FMCSA-2002-11714. Their 
exemptions are applicable as of May 30, 2018, and will expire on May 
30, 2020.
    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: July 12, 2018.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2018-15553 Filed 7-19-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P