[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 224 (Tuesday, November 20, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58678-58681]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-25282]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-1999-6156; FMCSA-1999-6480; FMCSA-2002-11714; FMCSA-
2005-23099; FMCSA-2006-24015; FMCSA-2006-24783; FMCSA-2007-27515; 
FMCSA-2008-0021; FMCSA-2008-0106; FMCSA-2008-0174; FMCSA-2009-0206; 
FMCSA-2009-0291; FMCSA-2009-0303; FMCSA-2009-0321; FMCSA-2010-0050; 
FMCSA-2010-0082; FMCSA-2010-0114; FMCSA-2011-0299; FMCSA-2011-0324; 
FMCSA-2011-0379; FMCSA-2012-0039; FMCSA-2012-0104; FMCSA-2012-0106; 
FMCSA-2012-0159; FMCSA-2012-0160; FMCSA-2012-0161; FMCSA-2013-0174; 
FMCSA-2014-0002; FMCSA-2014-0003; FMCSA-2014-0005; FMCSA-2014-0006; 
FMCSA-2014-0007; FMCSA-2014-0008; FMCSA-2016-0024; FMCSA-2016-0027; 
FMCSA-2016-0028; FMCSA-2016-0030]


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 100 
individuals from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier 
Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) for interstate

[[Page 58679]]

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. Public Participation

A. Viewing Documents and Comments

    To view comments, as well as any documents mentioned in this notice 
as being available in the docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov. 
Insert the docket number, FMCSA-1999-6156; FMCSA-1999-6480; FMCSA-2002-
11714; FMCSA-2005-23099; FMCSA-2006-24015; FMCSA-2006-24783; FMCSA-
2007-27515; FMCSA-2008-0021; FMCSA-2008-0106; FMCSA-2008-0174; FMCSA-
2009-0206; FMCSA-2009-0291; FMCSA-2009-0303; FMCSA-2009-0321; FMCSA-
2010-0050; FMCSA-2010-0082; FMCSA-2010-0114; FMCSA-2011-0299; FMCSA-
2011-0324; FMCSA-2011-0379; FMCSA-2012-0039; FMCSA-2012-0104; FMCSA-
2012-0106; FMCSA-2012-0159; FMCSA-2012-0160; FMCSA-2012-0161; FMCSA-
2013-0174; FMCSA-2014-0002; FMCSA-2014-0003; FMCSA-2014-0005; FMCSA-
2014-0006; FMCSA-2014-0007; FMCSA-2014-0008; FMCSA-2016-0024; FMCSA-
2016-0027; FMCSA-2016-0028; FMCSA-2016-0030, in the keyword box, and 
click ``Search.'' Next, click the ``Open Docket Folder'' button and 
choose the document to review. If you do not have access to the 
internet, you may view the docket online by visiting the Docket 
Management Facility in Room W12-140 on the ground floor of the DOT West 
Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590, between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., ET, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

B. 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 www.regulations.gov, as described in the system 
of records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at 
www.dot.gov/privacy.

II. Background

    On July 20, 2018, FMCSA published a notice announcing its decision 
to renew exemptions for 100 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 (83 FR 34661). The public comment 
period ended on August 20, 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 on its evaluation of the 100 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 August 
and are discussed below.
    As of August 1, 2018, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 
31315, the following 39 individuals have satisfied the renewal 
conditions for obtaining an exemption from the vision requirement in 
the FMCSRs for interstate CMV drivers (64 FR 54948; 64 FR 68195; 65 FR 
159; 65 FR 20251; 67 FR 10475; 67 FR 15662; 67 FR 17102; 67 FR 37907; 
69 FR 8260; 69 FR 17267; 69 FR 26206; 71 FR 4194; 71 FR 6824; 71 FR 
13450; 71 FR 16410; 71 FR 26601; 71 FR 26602; 71 FR 32183; 71 FR 41310; 
72 FR 21313; 72 FR 32703; 73 FR 15255; 73 FR 15567; 73 FR 27015; 73 FR 
27017; 73 FR 28186; 73 FR 36955; 74 FR 26464; 74 FR 43217; 74 FR 57551; 
74 FR 60022; 74 FR 65842; 75 FR 1835; 75 FR 4623; 75 FR 9478; 75 FR 
9482; 75 FR 14656; 75 FR 19674; 75 FR 20882; 75 FR 25917; 75 FR 27621; 
75 FR 27622; 75 FR 27623; 75 FR 28682; 75 FR 36778; 75 FR 36779; 75 FR 
39727; 76 FR 37173; 76 FR 75942; 77 FR 7657; 77 FR 10606; 77 FR 13689; 
77 FR 15184; 77 FR 20879; 77 FR 22059; 77 FR 23797; 77 FR 26816; 77 FR 
27847; 77 FR 27849; 77 FR 27850; 77 FR 29447; 77 FR 31427; 77 FR 33017; 
77 FR 36338; 77 FR 38384; 77 FR 38386; 77 FR 44708; 78 FR 57679; 78 FR 
67452; 78 FR 67460; 78 FR 78477; 79 FR 1908; 79 FR 10606; 79 FR 10608; 
79 FR 14328; 79 FR 14333; 79 FR 14571; 79 FR 17641; 79 FR 18390; 79 FR 
21996; 79 FR 22003; 79 FR 23797; 79 FR 27043; 79 FR 27681; 79 FR 28588; 
79 FR 29495; 79 FR 35212; 79 FR 35218; 79 FR 35220; 79 FR 38649; 79 FR 
38661; 79 FR 47175; 80 FR 49302; 80 FR 63869; 80 FR 80443; 81 FR 20433; 
81 FR 20435; 81 FR 21655; 81 FR 26305; 81 FR 28138; 81 FR 39320; 81 FR 
66718; 81 FR 66720; 81 FR 66724; 81 FR 77173; 81 FR 90050; 81 FR 91239; 
81 FR 96196):

Julian Aguirre (TX)
Daniel A. Bahm (FL)
Kenneth J. Bernard (LA)
Brad T. Braegger (UT)
Walter M. Brown (SC)
Daniel M. Cannon (OR)
Cary Carn (NJ)
Ryan E. Cox (WI)
William C. Dempsey, Jr. (MA)
Richard W. Ellis (IA)
Ronald D. Flanery (KY)
Nicholas C. Georgen (IA)
Luis Gomez-Banda (NV)
Gary A. Goostree (OH)
Joshua V. Harrison (NJ)
Wesley V. Holland (NC)
Timothy B. Hummel (KY)
Walter J. Jurczak (NJ)
Charles J. Kennedy (OH)
Randall L. Mathis (AL)
Brian D. McClanahan (IL)
Lawrence C. Moody (NJ)
Norman V. Myers (WA)
Earl R. Neugerbauer (CO)
Hassan Ourahou (KY)
Joe Ramirez (CA)
Tommy L. Ray, Jr. (AL)
Justin T. Richman (IN)
Kevin L. Routin (KY)
Scott J. Schlenker (WA)

[[Page 58680]]

Andrew W. Schollett (CO)
Michael D. Singleton (IN)
John C. Smith (IL)
Temesgn H. Teklezig (WA)
George W. Thomas (SC)
Gary R. Thomas (OH)
Leslie D. Wallace (MO)
Wade W. Ward (WY)
John T. White, Jr. (NC)

    The drivers were included in docket numbers FMCSA-1999-6156; FCMSA-
1999-6480; FCMSA-2002-11714; FCMSA-2005-23099; FCMSA-2006-24783; FCMSA-
2007-27515; FCMSA-2008-0021; FCMSA-2009-0206; FCMSA-2009-0291; FCMSA-
2009-0303; FCMSA-2009-0321; FCMSA-2010-0050; FCMSA-2010-0082; FCMSA-
2011-0299; FCMSA-2011-0324; FCMSA-2011-0379; FCMSA-2012-0039; FCMSA-
2012-0104; FCMSA-2012-0106; FCMSA-2013-0174; FCMSA-2014-0002; FCMSA-
2014-0003; FCMSA-2014-0005; FCMSA-2014-0006; FCMSA-2016-0024; FCMSA-
2016-0027; FCMSA-2016-0028. Their exemptions are applicable as of 
August 1, 2018, and will expire on August 1, 2020.
    As of August 6, 2018, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 
31315, the following five individuals have satisfied the renewal 
conditions for obtaining an exemption from the vision requirement in 
the FMCSRs for interstate CMV drivers (75 FR 25918; 75 FR 39729; 77 FR 
15184; 77 FR 27850; 77 FR 36336; 77 FR 36338; 77 FR 46795; 79 FR 38661; 
81 FR 90050):

William L. Martin (OR)
Richard L. Miller (IN)
Lance C. Phares (NY)
Richard D. Tucker II (NC)
Jay Turner (OH)

    The drivers were included in docket numbers FMCSA-2010-0082; FMCSA-
2011-0379; FMCSA-2012-0159. Their exemptions are applicable as of 
August 6, 2018, and will expire on August 6, 2020.
    As of August 8, 2018, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 
31315, the following 16 individuals have satisfied the renewal 
conditions for obtaining an exemption from the vision requirement in 
the FMCSRs for interstate CMV drivers (79 FR 38659; 79 FR 53514; 81 FR 
90050):

Jimmy A. Baker (TX)
Antonio A. Calixto (MN)
James W. Carter, Jr. (KS)
Larry G. Davis (TN)
Michael C. Doheny (CT)
George P. Ford (NC)
Ronnie L. Henry (KS)
Johnny L. Irving (MS)
Kevin L. Jones (SC)
Keith A. Kelley (ME)
David L. Miller (OH)
David Perkins (NY)
Randall H. Tempel (MT)
Cory J. Tivnan (WA)
Ricky W. Witt (IA)
John D. Woods (MI)

    The drivers were included in docket number FMCSA-2014-0007. Their 
exemptions are applicable as of August 8, 2018, and will expire on 
August 8, 2020.
    As of August 9, 2018, 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 requirement in 
the FMCSRs for interstate CMV drivers (75 FR 34210; 75 FR 34211; 75 FR 
34212; 75 FR 27888; 77 FR 40945; 79 FR 40945; 81 FR 90050):

Mark S. Berkheimer (PA)
Michael A. Jabro (MI)
Buddy W. Myrick (TX)
Charles L. Rill, Sr. (MD)

    The drivers were included in docket number FMCSA-2010-0114. Their 
exemptions are applicable as of August 9, 2018, and will expire on 
August 9, 2020.
    As of August 12, 2018, 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 vision requirement in 
the FMCSRs for interstate CMV drivers (81 FR 45214; 81 FR 66726):

David E. Campbell (NY)
James G. Cothren (GA)
Nenad Harnos (NJ)
Matthew D. Hormann (MN)
James W. Jones (AL)
Duane R. Martin (PA)
Roger S. Orr (IA)
Richard D. Shryock (MO)
Steven D. Sodders (OH)
Keith R. Tyler (NC)

    The drivers were included in docket number FMCSA-2016-0014. Their 
exemptions are applicable as of August 12, 2018, and will expire on 
August 12, 2020.
    As of August 18, 2018, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) 
and 31315, the following 22 individuals have satisfied the renewal 
conditions for obtaining an exemption from the vision requirement in 
the FMCSRs for interstate CMV drivers (71 FR 14567; 71 FR 30228; 73 FR 
28187; 73 FR 35195; 73 FR 35196; 73 FR 35197; 73 FR 35198; 73 FR 35199; 
73 FR 35200; 73 FR 35201; 73 FR 38498; 73 FR 38499; 73 FR 48273; 73 FR 
48275; 75 FR 25919; 75 FR 39729; 75 FR 44051; 77 FR 46153; 79 FR 46153; 
81 FR 90050):

Donald L. Carman (OH)
Christopher R. Cone (GA)
Walter O. Connelly (WA)
Roger D. Elders (MI)
Lucious J. Erwin (TX)
Riche Ford (CO)
Kevin K. Friedel (NY)
Steven G. Harter (OR)
Andrew C. Kelly (WV)
Jason W. King (MT)
Billy J. Lewis (LA)
Robert W. McMillian (MA)
Richard A. Peterson (OR)
Carroll G. Quisenberry (KY)
Ryan J. Reimann (WI)
Brandon J. See (IA)
Ricky L. Shepler (PA)
John L. Stone (PA)
Nils S. Thornberg (OR)
Daniel W. Toppings (WV)
Christopher R. Whitson (NC)
Aaron E. Wright (MI)

    The drivers were included in docket numbers FMCSA-2006-24015; 
FMCSA-2008-0106; FMCSA-2008-0174; FMCSA-2010-0082. Their exemptions are 
applicable as of August 18, 2018, and will expire on August 18, 2020.
    As of August 19, 2018, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) 
and 31315, the following two individuals have satisfied the renewal 
conditions for obtaining an exemption from the vision requirement in 
the FMCSRs for interstate CMV drivers (79 FR 41737; 79 FR 56102; 81 FR 
90050): Leamon V. Manchester (LA); Leverne F. Schulte, Jr. (OH)
    The drivers were included in docket number FMCSA-2014-0008. Their 
exemptions are applicable as of August 19, 2018, and will expire on 
August 19, 2020.
    As of August 27, 2018, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) 
and 31315, Gregory S. Smith (AR) has satisfied the renewal conditions 
for obtaining an exemption from the vision requirement in the FMCSRs 
for interstate CMV drivers (77 FR 38381; 77 FR 51846; 79 FR 41740; 81 
FR 90050).
    The driver was included in docket number FMCSA-2012-0160. The 
exemption is applicable as of August 27, 2018, and will expire on 
August 27, 2020.
    As of August 29, 2018, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) 
and 31315, Rickey W. Goins (TN) has satisfied the renewal conditions 
for obtaining an exemption from the vision requirement in the FMCSRs 
for interstate CMV drivers (77 FR 41879; 77 FR 52391; 79 FR 41735; 81 
FR 90050).
    The driver was included in docket number FMCSA-2012-0161. The 
exemption is applicable as of August 29, 2018, and will expire on 
August 29, 2020.

[[Page 58681]]

    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: November 9, 2018.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2018-25282 Filed 11-19-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P