[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 84 (Thursday, April 30, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24087-24090]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-09122]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-1999-6156; FMCSA-1999-6480; FMCSA-2003-16241; FMCSA-
2003-16564; FMCSA-2005-21711; FMCSA-2005-22194; FMCSA-2005-22727; 
FMCSA-2005-23099; FMCSA-2005-23238; FMCSA-2006-23773; FMCSA-2007-0071; 
FMCSA-2007-27897; FMCSA-2009-0011; FMCSA-2009-0291; FMCSA-2009-0321; 
FMCSA-2011-0024; FMCSA-2011-0141; FMCSA-2011-0142; FMCSA-2011-0275; 
FMCSA-2011-0298; FMCSA-2011-0324; FMCSA-2011-0365; FMCSA-2011-0366; 
FMCSA-2011-0378; FMCSA-2013-0029; FMCSA-2013-0166; FMCSA-2013-0167; 
FMCSA-2013-0168; FMCSA-2013-0169; FMCSA-2013-0174; FMCSA-2014-0002; 
FMCSA-2015-0070; FMCSA-2015-0071; FMCSA-2015-0072; FMCSA-2015-0344; 
FMCSA-2015-0345; FMCSA-2015-0347; FMCSA-2015-0348; FMCSA-2015-0350; 
FMCSA-2015-0351; FMCSA-2017-0022; FMCSA-2017-0024; FMCSA-2017-0026; 
FMCSA-2017-0028; FMCSA-2018-0006]


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 95 
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.

[[Page 24088]]


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 Operations, (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-2003-
16241; FMCSA-2003-16564; FMCSA-2005-21711; FMCSA-2005-22194; FMCSA-
2005-22727; FMCSA-2005-23099; FMCSA-2005-23238; FMCSA-2006-23773; 
FMCSA-2007-0071; FMCSA-2007-27897; FMCSA-2009-0011; FMCSA-2009-0291; 
FMCSA-2009-0321; FMCSA-2011-0024; FMCSA-2011-0141; FMCSA-2011-0142; 
FMCSA-2011-0275; FMCSA-2011-0298; FMCSA-2011-0324; FMCSA-2011-0365; 
FMCSA-2011-0366; FMCSA-2011-0378; FMCSA-2013-0029; FMCSA-2013-0166; 
FMCSA-2013-0167; FMCSA-2013-0168; FMCSA-2013-0169; FMCSA-2013-0174; 
FMCSA-2014-0002; FMCSA-2015-0070; FMCSA-2015-0071; FMCSA-2015-0072; 
FMCSA-2015-0344; FMCSA-2015-0345; FMCSA-2015-0347; FMCSA-2015-0348; 
FMCSA-2015-0350; FMCSA-2015-0351; FMCSA-2017-0022; FMCSA-2017-0024; 
FMCSA-2017-0026; FMCSA-2017-0028; FMCSA-2018-0006, 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 
Operations 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. To 
be sure someone is there to help you, please call (202) 366-9317 or 
(202) 366-9826 before visiting Docket Operations.

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.transportation.gov/privacy.

II. Background

    On March 5, 2020, FMCSA published a notice announcing its decision 
to renew exemptions for 95 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 (85 FR 12959). The public comment 
period ended on April 6, 2020, 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 95 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).
    As of April 1, 2020, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 
31315, the following 25 individuals have satisfied the renewal 
conditions for obtaining an exemption from the vision requirement in 
the FMCSRs for interstate CMV drivers (70 FR 48797; 70 FR 61493; 71 FR 
4194; 71 FR 13450; 72 FR 54971; 73 FR 6242; 73 FR 9158; 73 FR 16950; 74 
FR 49069; 74 FR 65842; 75 FR 9477; 75 FR 9482; 75 FR 9484; 76 FR 17481; 
76 FR 28125; 76 FR 53710; 76 FR 62143; 76 FR 70212; 76 FR 75943; 77 FR 
3552; 77 FR 10604; 77 FR 10606; 77 FR 13689; 77 FR 13691; 78 FR 24300; 
78 FR 34143; 78 FR 52602; 78 FR 64271; 79 FR 1908; 79 FR 2748; 79 FR 
6993; 79 FR 10619; 79 FR 12565; 79 FR 14328; 79 FR 14331; 79 FR 14333; 
80 FR 18696; 80 FR 59225; 80 FR 63869; 80 FR 70060; 80 FR 76345; 80 FR 
80443; 81 FR 1474; 81 FR 16265; 81 FR 20433; 81 FR 48493; 81 FR 60117; 
82 FR 33542; 82 FR 37504; 82 FR 47309; 82 FR 47312; 82 FR 58262; 83 FR 
2311; 83 FR 6681; 83 FR 6694; 83 FR 6919; 83 FR 6922; 83 FR 6925; 83 FR 
15232; 83 FR 18648; 83 FR 24151; 83 FR 24571):
Ronald C. Ashley (GA)
Jonathan E. Burt (VT)
Daryl Carpenter (MD)
Efrain R. Cisneros (CA)
Dana L. Colberg (OR)
Gary W. Ellis (NC)
Roberto Espinosa (FL)
Spencer L. Goard (KY)
Ethan A. Hale (KY)
Trevor M. Hilton (IL)
Ronald E. Howard (PA)
Clifford D. Johnson (VA)
Thomas M. Leadbitter (PA)
Jonathan P. Lovel (IL)
Raul Martinez (FL)
John M. Moore (LA)
Millard F. Neace II (WV)
Harold D. Pressley (TX)
Richard E. Purvenas, Jr. (DE)
William L. Richardson (IN)
Jake F. Richter (KS)
Douglas L. Riddell (CA)
Edward G. Thurston (TX)
William B. Wilson (KY)
George J. Worthington (NY)
    The drivers were included in docket numbers FMCSA-2005-21711; 
FMCSA-2005-23099; FMCSA-2007-0071; FMCSA-2007-0071; FMCSA-2007-0071; 
FMCSA-2009-0291; FMCSA-2011-0024; FMCSA-2011-0141; FMCSA-2011-0365; 
FMCSA-2013-0029; FMCSA-2013-0029; FMCSA-2013-0167; FMCSA-2013-0174; 
FMCSA-2015-0072; FMCSA-2015-0344; FMCSA-2015-0347; FMCSA-2017-0022; 
FMCSA-2017-0024; FMCSA-2017-0026; FMCSA-2017-0026; FMCSA-2017-0028; 
FMCSA-2017-0028; FMCSA-2017-0028; FMCSA-2017-0028; and FMCSA-2018-0006. 
Their exemptions are applicable as of April 1, 2020, and will expire on 
April 1, 2022.
    As of April 12, 2020, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 
31315, the following 35 individuals have satisfied the renewal 
conditions for obtaining an exemption from the vision requirement in 
the FMCSRs for interstate CMV drivers (68 FR 61857; 68 FR 74699; 68 FR 
74699; 68 FR 75715; 69 FR 10503; 69 FR 10503; 70 FR 57353; 70 FR 71884; 
70 FR 72689; 71 FR 644; 71 FR 4194; 71 FR 4632; 71 FR 6829; 71 FR 6829; 
71 FR 13450; 72 FR 39879; 72 FR 52422; 72 FR 71995; 73 FR 5259; 73

[[Page 24089]]

FR 8392; 73 FR 9158; 74 FR 49069; 74 FR 65842; 74 FR 65847; 75 FR 1451; 
75 FR 8184; 75 FR 9477; 75 FR 9482; 75 FR 9484; 76 FR 49528; 76 FR 
61143; 76 FR 64164; 76 FR 70213; 76 FR 75942; 76 FR 79760; 77 FR 541; 
77 FR 545; 77 FR 3547; 77 FR 3552; 77 FR 5874; 77 FR 7233; 77 FR 7657; 
77 FR 10604; 77 FR 10606; 77 FR 13689; 77 FR 13691; 77 FR 17117; 77 FR 
17119; 77 FR 22059; 78 FR 62935; 78 FR 63302; 78 FR 64271; 78 FR 64274; 
78 FR 67452; 78 FR 74223; 78 FR 76395; 78 FR 76705; 78 FR 77778; 78 FR 
77780; 78 FR 78475; 79 FR 1908; 79 FR 2247; 79 FR 2748; 79 FR 10602; 79 
FR 10619; 79 FR 12565; 79 FR 13085; 79 FR 14328; 79 FR 14331; 79 FR 
14332; 79 FR 14333; 79 FR 18390; 80 FR 67472; 80 FR 67476; 80 FR 67481; 
80 FR 70060; 80 FR 76345; 80 FR 79414; 80 FR 80443; 81 FR 6573; 81 FR 
11642; 81 FR 15401; 81 FR 15404; 81 FR 16265; 81 FR 20433; 81 FR 20435; 
81 FR 28136; 81 FR 44680; 81 FR 60117; 83 FR 15195):
Donald J. Bierwirth, Jr. (CT)
Bryan Borrowman (UT)
Eugene Contreras (NM)
Levi R. Coutcher (WA)
Herman R. Dahmer (MD)
Jim L. Davis (NM)
Michael P. Eisenreich (MN)
Daniel W. Eynon (OH)
Richard P. Frederiksen (WY)
Danny R. Gray (OK)
Keith J. Haaf (VA)
Louis E. Henry, Jr. (KY)
Zion Irizarry (NV)
Kevin Jacoby (NJ)
Tommy R. Jefferies (FL)
Billy R. Jeffries (WV)
Lowell Johnson (MN)
John R. Knott, III (MD)
Curtis M. Lawless (VA)
Herman Martinez (NM)
Brandon J. Michalko (NY)
Michael E. Miles (IL)
Daniel I. Miller (PA)
Robert Mollicone (FL)
Willie L. Parks (CA)
Richard J. Pauxtis (OR)
Rafael Quintero (TX)
Esequiel M. Ramirez-Moreno (TX)
Kent S. Reining (IL)
Roy C. Rogers (WV)
Mark A. Smalls (GA)
Michael A. Terry (IN)
Clifford B. Thompson, Jr. (SC)
Norman J. Watson (NC)
Charles T. Whitehead (NC)
    The drivers were included in docket numbers FMCSA-2003-16241; 
FMCSA-2003-16564; FMCSA-2003-16564; FMCSA-2005-22194; FMCSA-2005-22727; 
FMCSA-2005-23099; FMCSA-2007-27897; FMCSA-2009-0291; FMCSA-2009-0291; 
FMCSA-2009-0291; FMCSA-2009-0291; FMCSA-2009-0291; FMCSA-2011-0142; 
FMCSA-2011-0275; FMCSA-2011-0298; FMCSA-2011-0324; FMCSA-2011-0324; 
FMCSA-2011-0365; FMCSA-2011-0366; FMCSA-2011-0366; FMCSA-2013-0166; 
FMCSA-2013-0167; FMCSA-2013-0167; FMCSA-2013-0168; FMCSA-2013-0169; 
FMCSA-2013-0174; FMCSA-2013-0174; FMCSA-2015-0070; FMCSA-2015-0070; 
FMCSA-2015-0071; FMCSA-2015-0072; FMCSA-2015-0344; FMCSA-2015-0344; 
FMCSA-2015-0345; and FMCSA-2015-0348. Their exemptions are applicable 
as of April 12, 2020, and will expire on April 12, 2022.
    As of April 14, 2020, 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 54948; 64 FR 68195; 65 FR 
159; 65 FR 20251; 67 FR 10475; 67 FR 17102; 69 FR 8260; 69 FR 17267; 71 
FR 4194; 71 FR 5105; 71 FR 6824; 71 FR 6826; 71 FR 13450; 71 FR 16410; 
71 FR 19600; 71 FR 19602; 73 FR 11989; 75 FR 1835; 75 FR 9482; 75 FR 
13653; 77 FR 17107; 79 FR 18391; 81 FR 20435; 83 FR 15195):
Mark A. Baisden (OH)
Curtis J. Crowston (ND)
Walter R. Hardiman (WV)
Michael W. Jones (IL)
Matthew J. Konecki (MT)
Joseph S. Nix, IV (MO)
Robert V. Sloan (NC)
    The drivers were included in docket numbers FMCSA-1999-6156; FMCSA-
1999-6480; FMCSA-2005-23099; FMCSA-2005-23238; FMCSA-2006-23773; and 
FMCSA-2009-0321. Their exemptions are applicable as of April 14, 2020, 
and will expire on April 14, 2022.
    As of April 16, 2020, 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 (81 FR 14190; 81 FR 39100; 83 FR 
15195):
William H. Brence (SD)
Larry D. Fulk (MO)
Darrell K. Harber (MO)
Robert E. Holbrook (TN)
Maurice L. Kinney (PA)
Richard R. Krafczynski (PA)
Michael S. McHale (PA)
Darin P. Milton (TN)
William J. Powell (KY)
    The drivers were included in docket number FMCSA-2015-0350. Their 
exemptions are applicable as of April 16, 2020, and will expire on 
April 16, 2022.
    As of April 17, 2020, 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 (77 FR 19749; 77 FR 22838; 79 FR 
15794; 81 FR 20435; 83 FR 15195):
    Gilberto M. Rosas (AZ) and Kim A. Shaffer (PA)
    The drivers were included in docket number FMCSA-2011-0378. Their 
exemptions are applicable as of April 17, 2020, and will expire on 
April 17, 2022.
    As of April 18, 2020, 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 (79 FR 10606; 79 FR 22003; 81 FR 
28138; 83 FR 15195):
Thomas R. Abbott (TN)
Thomas Benavidez, Jr. (ID)
Daniel Fedder (IL)
Mark La Fleur (MD)
Michael Nichols (GA)
Dino J. Pires (CT)
John B. Theres (IL)
Robert S. Waltz (ME)
    The drivers were included in docket number FMCSA-2014-0002. Their 
exemptions are applicable as of April 18, 2020, and will expire on 
April 18, 2022.
    As of April 23, 2020, 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 (68 FR 74699; 69 FR 10503; 71 FR 
6829; 73 FR 6242; 73 FR 15254; 73 FR 16950; 75 FR 20881; 77 FR 17115; 
79 FR 17641; 81 FR 20435; 83 FR 15195):
    Thomas R. Hedden (IL) and Douglas A. Mendoza (MD)
    The drivers were included in docket numbers FMCSA-2003-16564 and 
FMCSA-2007-0071. Their exemptions are applicable as of April 23, 2020, 
and will expire on April 23, 2022.
    As of April 27, 2020, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 
31315, the following individual has satisfied the renewal conditions 
for obtaining an exemption from the vision requirement in the FMCSRs 
for interstate CMV drivers (75 FR 9480; 75 FR 22176; 77 FR 17108; 79 FR 
17643; 81 FR 20435; 83 FR 15195):
    Gerald L. Rush, Jr. (NJ)
    The driver was included in docket number FMCSA-2009-0011. The 
exemption is applicable as of April 27, 2020, and will expire on April 
27, 2022.
    As of April 28, 2020, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and

[[Page 24090]]

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 (81 FR 17237; 81 FR 52516; 83 FR 
15195):
Lee R. Boykin (TX)
Hugo N. Gutierrez (IN)
William J. Kanaris (NY)
Ronnie L. McHugh (KS)
Donald P. Ruckinger (PA)
Trent Wipf (SD)
    The drivers were included in docket number FMCSA-2015-0351. Their 
exemptions are applicable as of April 28, 2020, and will expire on 
April 28, 2022.
    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).

Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2020-09122 Filed 4-29-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P