[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 190 (Tuesday, October 1, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52166-52169]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-21284]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2001-9258; FMCSA-2001-9561; FMCSA-2002-11714; FMCSA-
2002-13411; FMCSA-2003-14504; FMCSA-2003-15268; FMCSA-2005-20560; 
FMCSA-2005-21254; FMCSA-2006-26653; FMCSA-2007-2663; FMCSA-2007-27333; 
FMCSA-2007-27515; FMCSA-2007-27897; FMCSA-2008-0106; FMCSA-2009-0054; 
FMCSA-2009-0121; FMCSA-2010-0354; FMCSA-2011-0010; FMCSA-2011-0024; 
FMCSA-2011-0102; FMCSA-2011-0140; FMCSA-2011-0141; FMCSA-2013-0022; 
FMCSA-2013-0025; FMCSA-2013-0027; FMCSA-2013-0028; FMCSA-2013-0029; 
FMCSA-2014-0006; FMCSA-2014-0010; FMCSA-2014-0302; FMCSA-2014-0304; 
FMCSA-2014-0305; FMCSA-2015-0049; FMCSA-2015-0052; FMCSA-2015-0053; 
FMCSA-2015-0055; FMCSA-2016-0033; FMCSA-2016-0207; FMCSA-2016-0212; 
FMCSA-2016-0214; FMCSA-2016-0377; FMCSA-2017-0014; FMCSA-2017-0016; 
FMCSA-2017-0019; FMCSA-2017-0020]


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 126 
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 provided 
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, (202) 366-9826.

[[Page 52167]]


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-2001-9258; FMCSA-2001-9561; FMCSA-2002-
11714; FMCSA-2002-13411; FMCSA-2003-14504; FMCSA-2003-15268; FMCSA-
2005-20560; FMCSA-2005-21254; FMCSA-2006-26653; FMCSA-2007-2663; FMCSA-
2007-27333; FMCSA-2007-27515; FMCSA-2007-27897; FMCSA-2008-0106; FMCSA-
2009-0054; FMCSA-2009-0121; FMCSA-2010-0354; FMCSA-2011-0010; FMCSA-
2011-0024; FMCSA-2011-0102; FMCSA-2011-0140; FMCSA-2011-0141; FMCSA-
2013-0022; FMCSA-2013-0025; FMCSA-2013-0027; FMCSA-2013-0028; FMCSA-
2013-0029; FMCSA-2014-0006; FMCSA-2014-0010; FMCSA-2014-0302; FMCSA-
2014-0304; FMCSA-2014-0305; FMCSA-2015-0049; FMCSA-2015-0052; FMCSA-
2015-0053; FMCSA-2015-0055; FMCSA-2016-0033; FMCSA-2016-0207; FMCSA-
2016-0212; FMCSA-2016-0214; FMCSA-2016-0377; FMCSA-2017-0014; FMCSA-
2017-0016; FMCSA-2017-0019; or FMCSA-2017-0020, 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 August 5, 2019, FMCSA published a notice announcing its decision 
to renew exemptions for 126 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 (84 FR 38097). The public comment 
period ended on September 4, 2019, and no comments were received.
    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 Sec.  391.41(b)(10).
    The physical qualification standard for drivers regarding vision 
found in Sec.  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 proceeding.

IV. Conclusion

    Based on its evaluation of the 126 renewal exemption applications 
and comments received, FMCSA confirms its decision to exempt the 
following drivers from the vision requirement in Sec.  391.41(b)(10).
    In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315(b), the following 
groups of drivers received renewed exemptions in the month of August 
and are discussed below. As of August 8, 2019, and in accordance with 
49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315, the following 65 individuals have 
satisfied the renewal conditions for obtaining an exemption from the 
vision requirement in the FMCSRs for interstate CMV drivers (66 FR 
30502; 66 FR 41654; 67 FR 15662; 67 FR 37907; 67 FR 76439; 68 FR 10298; 
68 FR 19598; 68 FR 33570; 68 FR 44837; 69 FR 26206; 70 FR 7545; 70 FR 
17504; 70 FR 25878; 70 FR 30997; 70 FR 41811; 71 FR 26601; 71 FR 26602; 
72 FR 7812; 72 FR 8417; 72 FR 12666; 72 FR 21313; 72 FR 25831; 72 FR 
27624; 72 FR 28093; 72 FR 32703; 72 FR 36099; 72 FR 39879; 72 FR 40362; 
72 FR 52419; 73 FR 27017; 73 FR 36955; 74 FR 11988; 74 FR 15586; 74 FR 
19267; 74 FR 19270; 74 FR 20253; 74 FR 21427; 74 FR 23472; 74 FR 26461; 
74 FR 26466; 74 FR 28094; 74 FR 34395; 74 FR 34630; 75 FR 27621; 75 FR 
36779; 75 FR 66423; 75 FR 72863; 76 FR 2190; 76 FR 9856; 76 FR 17481; 
76 FR 20076; 76 FR 21796; 76 FR 25762; 76 FR 28125; 76 FR 29022; 76 FR 
29026; 76 FR 32016; 76 FR 32017; 76 FR 37168; 76 FR 37173; 76 FR 44082; 
76 FR 44652; 77 FR 27849; 77 FR 38384; 77 FR 74273; 78 FR 12815; 78 FR 
14410; 78 FR 18667; 78 FR 20376; 78 FR 22596; 78 FR 22602; 78 FR 24300; 
78 FR 24798; 78 FR 27281; 78 FR 30954; 78 FR 32703; 78 FR 32708; 78 FR 
34141; 78 FR 41188; 78 FR 46407; 78 FR 51268; 78 FR 51269; 78 FR 56993; 
78 FR 57679; 79 FR 35212; 79 FR 35218; 79 FR 47175; 79 FR 51643; 79 FR 
64001; 79 FR 73687; 80 FR 12248; 80 FR 14223; 80 FR 16500; 80 FR 16502; 
80 FR 18696; 80 FR 22773; 80 FR 25766; 80 FR 25768; 80 FR 26320; 80 FR 
29149; 80 FR 29152; 80 FR 29154; 80 FR 31635; 80 FR 31636; 80 FR 31957; 
80 FR 33007; 80 FR 33011; 80 FR 35699; 80 FR 36395; 80 FR 36398; 80 FR 
37718; 80 FR 45573; 80 FR 48404; 80 FR 48413; 81 FR 59266; 81 FR 70248; 
81 FR 74494; 81 FR 80161; 81 FR 86063; 81 FR 90046; 81 FR 91239; 82 FR 
12678; 82 FR 12683; 82 FR 13045; 82 FR 13048; 82 FR 15277; 82 FR 17736; 
82 FR 18949; 82 FR 18954; 82 FR 18956; 82 FR 26224; 82 FR 28734; 82 FR 
32919; 82 FR 33542; 82 FR 37499):

Joshua A. Akshar (NY)
Dakota A. Albrecht (MN)
James C. Barr (OH)
Russell A. Bolduc (CT)
Steven R. Brinegar (TX)
Ryan L. Brown (IL)
Bernabe V. Cerda (TX)
Don A. Clymer (PA)
Dennis W. Cosens (NM)
William T. Costie (NY)
Paul W. Dawson (CO)
Everett A. Doty (AZ)
Timothy H. DuBois (MN)
Eric Esplin (UT)
Raymond C. Favreau (VT)
Kevin M. Finn (NY)
William B. Friend (MD)
Greg E. Gage (IA)
Odus P. Gautney (TX)
Dale R. Goodell (SD)
Edward J. Grant (IL)
Ramon L. Green (LA)
Jose J. Guzman-Olguin (IL)
Johnnie L. Hall (MD)
Gary D. Hallman (AL)
Daniel L. Holman (UT)
Tommy T. Hudson (VA)
David A. Inman (IN)
Joseph M. Jones (ID)
Harry L. Jones (OH)
James J. Keranen (MI)
Cody A. Keys (OK)
David J. Kibble (PA)
Thomas Korycki (NJ)
Larry G. Kreke (IL)
Michael Lafferty (ID)
Ryan P. Lambert (UT)
David C. Leoffler (CO)
Emanuel N. Malone (VA)
James McClure (NC)
Steven J. McLain (TN)
Zagar E. Melvin (NJ)
Daniel R. Murphy (WI)

[[Page 52168]]

Travis W. Neiwert (ID)
Armando F. Pederoso Jimenez (MN)
Donald W. Randall (OR)
Scott K. Richardson (OH)
Elvis E. Rogers, Jr. (TX)
Leo D. Roy (NH)
Antonio Sanchez (NJ)
Jose C. Sanchez-Sanchez (WY)
Tim M. Seavy (IN)
Raymond Sherrill (PA)
Kyle C. Shover (NJ)
Rick J. Smart (NH)
Bill J. Thierolf (NE)
Steven L. Thomas (IN)
David R. Thomas (AL)
Eric M. Turton (NY)
Roy J. Ware (GA)
Marcus R. Watkins (TX)
Paul C. Weiss (PA)
Daniel A. Wescott (CO)
James Whiteway (TX)
Edward A. Ziehlke (WI)

    The drivers were included in docket numbers FMCSA-2001-9561; FMCSA-
2002-11714; FMCSA-2002-13411; FMCSA-2003-14504; FMCSA-2005-20560; 
FMCSA-2006-26653; FMCSA-2007-2663; FMCSA-2007-27333; FMCSA-2007-27515; 
FMCSA-2007-27897; FMCSA-2007-27897; FMCSA-2008-0106; FMCSA-2009-0054; 
FMCSA-2009-0121; FMCSA-2010-0354; FMCSA-2011-0010; FMCSA-2011-0024; 
FMCSA-2011-0102; FMCSA-2013-0022; FMCSA-2013-0025; FMCSA-2013-0027; 
FMCSA-2013-0028; FMCSA-2014-0006; FMCSA-2014-0010; FMCSA-2014-0302; 
FMCSA-2014-0304; FMCSA-2014-0305; FMCSA-2015-0049; FMCSA-2015-0052; 
FMCSA-2016-0033; FMCSA-2016-0207; FMCSA-2016-0212; FMCSA-2016-0214; 
FMCSA-2016-0377; FMCSA-2017-0014; FMCSA-2017-0016. Their exemptions are 
applicable as of August 8, 2019, and will expire on August 8, 2021.
    As of August 10, 2019, 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 (66 FR 17743; 66 FR 33990; 68 FR 
35772; 70 FR 30999; 70 FR 33937; 70 FR 46567; 72 FR 32705; 72 FR 40359; 
74 FR 26464; 74 FR 34074; 76 FR 44653; 79 FR 4531; 80 FR 41547; 82 FR 
32919):

Donald M. Jenson (SD)
Dennis D. Lesperance (OR)
Carl V. Murphy, Jr. (TX)

    The drivers were included in docket numbers FMCSA-2001-9258; FMCSA-
2005-21254. Their exemptions are applicable as of August 10, 2019, and 
will expire on August 10, 2021.
    As of August 12, 2019, 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 (76 FR 37169; 76 FR 50318; 79 FR 
4531; 80 FR 41548; 82 FR 32919):

Danny F. Burnley (KY)
Sean R. Conorman (MI)
Robert E. Graves (NE)
Terrence F. Ryan (FL)

    The drivers were included in docket number FMCSA-2011-0140. Their 
exemptions are applicable as of August 12, 2019, and will expire on 
August 12, 2021.
    As of August 13, 2019, 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 (80 FR 40122; 80 FR 62163; 82 FR 
32919):

Pedro Del Bosque (TX)
William D. Cherry (MA)
Anthony C. DeNaples (PA)
Edward Dugue III (NC)
Larry R. Hayes (KS)
Wayne E. Jakob (IL)
Earney J. Knox (MO)
James Smentkowski (NJ)
Neil G. Sturges (NY)
Norman G. Wooten (TX)
Kurt A. Yoder (OH)

    The drivers were included in docket number FMCSA-2015-0053. Their 
exemptions are applicable as of August 13, 2019, and will expire on 
August 13, 2021.
    As of August 15, 2019, 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 vision requirement in 
the FMCSRs for interstate CMV drivers (66 FR 30502; 66 FR 41654; 68 FR 
37197; 68 FR 44837; 68 FR 48989; 70 FR 41811; 70 FR 42615; 72 FR 40360; 
74 FR 34632; 76 FR 49531; 79 FR 4531; 80 FR 44185; 82 FR 32919):

Steven P. Holden (MD)
Christopher G. Jarvela (MI)
Brad L. Mathna (PA)
Vincent P. Miller (CA)
Warren J. Nyland (MI)
Wesley E. Turner (TX)
Mona J. Van Krieken (OR)
Paul S. Yocum (IN)

    The drivers were included in docket numbers FMCSA-2001-9561; FMCSA-
2003-15268. Their exemptions are applicable as of August 15, 2019, and 
will expire on August 15, 2021.
    As of August 23, 2019, 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 vision requirement in 
the FMCSRs for interstate CMV drivers (78 FR 34143; 78 FR 52602; 82 FR 
32919):

Twila G. Cole (OR)
Brian D. Dowd (MA)
Randy L. Fales (MN)
Marc C. Grooms (MO)
Craig M. Mahaffey (OH)
Rickey H. Reeder (TN)
Michael L. Sherum (AL)
Dale A. Torkelson (WI)
Desmond Waldor (PA)

    The drivers were included in docket number FMCSA-2013-0029. Their 
exemptions are applicable as of August 23, 2019, and will expire on 
August 23, 2021.
    As of August 25, 2019, 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 (80 FR 44188; 80 FR 62161; 82 FR 
32919; 82 FR 34564; 82 FR 47296):

Harold D. Albrecht (IL)
Robert F. Anneheim (NC)
Ray C. Atkinson (TN)
Joseph W. Bahr (NJ)
Stephen C. Brueggeman (KY)
Robert J. Falanga (FL)
Refugio Haro (IL)
Kevin L. Harrison (TN)
Duane S. Lozinski (IA)
Keith W. McNabb (ID)
Ronald W. Neujahr (KS)
Robert E. Richards (ME)
Thomas E. Riley (NJ)
James R. Robinette (VA)
Rick R. Warner (MI)
Theodore A. White (PA)

    The drivers were included in docket numbers FMCSA-2015-0055; FMCSA-
2017-0020. Their exemptions are applicable as of August 25, 2019, and 
will expire on August 25, 2021.
    As of August 29, 2019, 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 (76 FR 40445; 76 FR 53710; 79 FR 
4531; 82 FR 32919; 82 FR 35043):

Thomas A. Barber (NC)
Patrick J. Conner (OK)
Jay D. Diebel (MI)
Danny G. Goodman (TX)
Randy N. Grandfield (VT)
James Howard (CA)
Edgar A. Ideler (IL)
Ramon Melendez (NJ)
John J. Tilton (NH)

[[Page 52169]]

Randy D. VanScoy (IA)

    The drivers were included in docket numbers FMCSA-2011-0141; FMCSA-
2017-0019. Their exemptions are applicable as of August 29, 2019, and 
will expire on August 29, 2021.
    In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31315(b), each exemption will be valid 
for 2 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(e) and 
31315(b).

    Issued on: September 25, 2019.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2019-21284 Filed 9-30-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P