[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 25 (Wednesday, February 6, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2326-2328]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-01257]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-1998-4334; FMCSA-2000-7165; FMCSA-2000-7363; FMCSA-
2002-12294; FMCSA-2004-18885; FMCSA-2008-0174; FMCSA-2008-0231; FMCSA-
2008-0266; FMCSA-2008-0292; FMCSA-2010-0082; FMCSA-2010-0114; FMCSA-
2010-0161; FMCSA-2010-0187; FMCSA-2011-0276; FMCSA-2012-0160; FMCSA-
2012-0214; FMCSA-2012-0279; FMCSA-2012-0280; FMCSA-2013-0169; FMCSA-
2013-0174; FMCSA-2014-0003; FMCSA-2014-0007; FMCSA-2014-0011; FMCSA-
2014-0296; FMCSA-2014-0298; FMCSA-2015-0344; FMCSA-2016-0025; FMCSA-
2016-0027; FMCSA-2016-0031; FMCSA-2016-0033; FMCSA-2016-0207; FMCSA-
2016-0208; FMCSA-2016-0210; FMCSA-2016-0212]


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 67 
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. 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-1998-4334; FMCSA-2000-7165; FMCSA-2000-
7363; FMCSA-2002-12294; FMCSA-2004-18885; FMCSA-2008-0174; FMCSA-2008-
0231; FMCSA-2008-0266; FMCSA-2008-0292; FMCSA-2010-0082; FMCSA-2010-
0114; FMCSA-2010-0161; FMCSA-2010-0187; FMCSA-2011-0276; FMCSA-2012-
0160; FMCSA-2012-0214; FMCSA-2012-0279; FMCSA-2012-0280; FMCSA-2013-
0169; FMCSA-2013-0174; FMCSA-2014-0003; FMCSA-2014-0007; FMCSA-2014-
0011; FMCSA-2014-0296; FMCSA-2014-0298; FMCSA-2015-0344; FMCSA-2016-
0025; FMCSA-2016-0027; FMCSA-2016-0031; FMCSA-2016-0033; FMCSA-2016-
0207; FMCSA-2016-0208; FMCSA-2016-0210; FMCSA-2016-0212, 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

[[Page 2327]]

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 November 9, 2018, FMCSA published a notice announcing its 
decision to renew exemptions for 67 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 56143). The 
public comment period ended on December 10, 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 drive 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 67 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 December 
and are discussed below. As of December 3, 2018, and in accordance with 
49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315, the following 38 individuals have 
satisfied the renewal conditions for obtaining an exemption from the 
vision requirement in the FMCSRs for interstate CMV drivers (63 FR 
66227; 64 FR 16520; 65 FR 33406; 65 FR 57234; 67 FR 46016; 67 FR 57266; 
67 FR 57627; 69 FR 51346; 69 FR 52741; 71 FR 50970; 71 FR 53489; 73 FR 
38497; 73 FR 46973; 73 FR 48273; 73 FR 51336; 73 FR 51689; 73 FR 54888; 
73 FR 63047; 73 FR 75807; 75 FR 25918; 75 FR 34209; 75 FR 39725; 75 FR 
39729; 75 FR 44051; 75 FR 47883; 75 FR 47886; 75 FR 52062; 75 FR 52063; 
75 FR 61833; 75 FR 63257; 75 FR 64396; 76 FR 67248; 76 FR 79761; 77 FR 
36338; 77 FR 38381; 77 FR 46153; 77 FR 46793; 77 FR 51846; 77 FR 52388; 
77 FR 52389; 77 FR 56262; 77 FR 59245; 77 FR 60008; 77 FR 60010; 77 FR 
64582; 77 FR 71671; 78 FR 64274; 78 FR 76705; 78 FR 77778; 79 FR 1908; 
79 FR 14333; 79 FR 14571; 79 FR 28588; 79 FR 35220; 79 FR 38659; 79 FR 
41740; 79 FR 46153; 79 FR 46300; 79 FR 52388; 79 FR 53514; 79 FR 56099; 
79 FR 56104; 79 FR 58856; 79 FR 65760; 79 FR 70928; 79 FR 72754; 80 FR 
76345; 81 FR 21647; 81 FR 26305; 81 FR 52514; 81 FR 59266; 81 FR 66724; 
81 FR 68098; 81 FR 70248; 81 FR 70253; 81 FR 71173; 81 FR 72664; 81 FR 
74494; 81 FR 80161; 81 FR 81230; 81 FR 90046; 81 FR 90050; 81 FR 94013; 
81 FR 96180; 81 FR 96191):

Gary R. Andersen (NE)
Theodore N. Belcher (VA)
Daniel S. Billig (MN)
Thomas A. Black (MO)
Robert S. Bowen (GA)
Brian E. Broux (CA)
John M. Brown (KY)
Tracy L. Butcher (VA)
Jonathan E. Carriaga (NM)
Irvin L. Eaddy (SC)
Terry J. Edwards (MO)
Stephen R. Ehlenburg (IL)
Frank J. Faria (CA)
Christopher K. Foot (NV)
Claudia E. Gerez-Betancourt (TX)
Billy R. Gibbs (MD)
Samuel R. Graziano (PA)
Tyrane Harper (AL)
Christopher M. Keen (KS)
Theodore Kirby (MD)
Johnny Montemayor (TX)
Derrick P. Moore (MN)
Richard L. Moores (CO)
Aaron F. Naylor (PA)
Billy R. Oguynn (AL)
Ronald W. Patten (ME)
Benny D. Patterson (OH)
Alexander L. Resh (PA)
David T. Rueckert (WA)
Benito Saldana (TX)
Daniel Salinas (OR)
Kenneth D. Sisk (NC)
Sherman L. Taylor (FL)
Richard T. Traigle (LA)
Melvin V. Van Meter (PA)
Emejildo M. Vargas (NH)
Christopher M. Vincent (NC)
Wilbert Walden (NC)

    The drivers were included in docket numbers FMCSA-1998-4334; FMCSA-
2000-7165; FMCSA-2002-12294; FMCSA-2008-0174; FMCSA-2008-0231; FMCSA-
2008-0266; FMCSA-2010-0082; FMCSA-2010-0114; FMCSA-2010-0161; FMCSA-
2010-0187; FMCSA-2011-0276; FMCSA-2012-0160; FMCSA-2012-0214; FMCSA-
2012-0279; FMCSA-2013-0169; FMCSA-2013-0174; FMCSA-2014-0003; FMCSA-
2014-0007; FMCSA-2014-0011; FMCSA-2014-0296; FMCSA-2015-0344; FMCSA-
2016-0025; FMCSA-2016-0027; FMCSA-2016-0031; FMCSA-2016-0033; FMCSA-
2016-0207; FMCSA-2016-0208; FMCSA-2016-0210. Their exemptions are 
applicable as of December 3, 2018, and will expire on December 3, 2020.
    As of December 8, 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 (65 FR 45817; 65 FR 77066; 67 FR 
71610; 69 FR 53493; 69 FR 62742; 69 FR 64810; 71 FR 62148; 71 FR 66217; 
73 FR 61922; 73 FR 61925; 73 FR 74565; 75 FR 77949; 77 FR 68202; 79 FR 
65759; 81 FR 96180):

Ronald W. Garner (WA)
Wayne R. Mantela (KY)
Carl M. McIntire (OH)
Bernice R. Parnell (NC)
Patrick W. Shea (MA)
Roy F. Varnado, Jr. (LA)
Michael J. Welle (MN)

    The drivers were included in docket numbers FMCSA-2000-7363; FMCSA-
2004-18885; FMCSA-2008-0292. Their exemptions are applicable as of 
December 8, 2018, and will expire on December 8, 2020.
    As of December 20, 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 (77 FR 64839; 77 FR 75494; 79 FR 
73393; 81 FR 96180):

Ronald J. Bergman (OH)
Noah E. Bowen (OH)
Lawrence D. Malecha (MN)
Jerry M. Puckett (OH)
Emin Toric (GA)

    The drivers were included in docket number FMCSA-2012-0280. Their 
exemptions are applicable as of December 20, 2018, and will expire on 
December 20, 2020.

[[Page 2328]]

    As of December 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 (79 FR 69985; 80 FR 8927; 81 FR 
96180):

Thurman T. Clayton (LA)
Tig G. Cornell (ID)
Jon R. Davidson (CO)
Edwin T. Donaldson (PA)
Keith C. Lendt (MN)
Joseph McTear (TX)
Daniel R. Thompson (PA)

    The drivers were included in docket number FMCSA-2014-0298. Their 
exemptions are applicable as of December 25, 2018, and will expire on 
December 25, 2020.
    As of December 30, 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 86063; 82 FR 96180):

Brian T. Castoldi (CT)
Willie George (NY)
David E. Goff (MA)
Michal Golebiowski (IL)
Loyd F. Hovey (NY)
George T. Huffman (IL)
Julio Rivera (FL)
Willie J. Smith (TX)
John D. Stork (IL)
James R. Wagner (IL)

    The drivers were included in docket number FMCSA-2016-0212. Their 
exemptions are applicable as of December 30, 2018, and will expire on 
December 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: January 30, 2019.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2019-01257 Filed 2-5-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P