Qualifications of Drivers; Diabetes Standard, 13801-13805 [06-2417]

Agencies

• Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 52 (Friday, March 17, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 13801-13805]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-2417]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

49 CFR Part 391

[Docket No. FMCSA-2005-23151]
RIN 2126-AA95


Qualifications of Drivers; Diabetes Standard

AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT.

ACTION: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM); request for 
comments.

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SUMMARY: FMCSA announces that it is considering whether to amend its 
medical qualifications standards to allow the operation of commercial 
motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce by drivers with insulin-
treated diabetes mellitus (ITDM) whose physical conditions are adequate 
to allow them to operate safely and without deleterious effects on 
their health. At present, drivers with ITDM are required to obtain 
exemptions before operating CMVs. Upon completion of this rulemaking, 
drivers with ITDM might not be required to apply for exemptions from 
the current rule prohibiting such drivers from operating in interstate 
commerce. However, unless and until the agency changes the current 
standard in this rulemaking, drivers with ITDM are prohibited from 
operating CMVs in interstate commerce, unless such individuals have 
exemptions from FMCSA. Any action to revise the current standard would 
be made in conformity with the changes in FMCSA's existing authority to 
establish, review and revise physical and medical qualification 
standards for drivers made by the Safe, Accountable, Flexible and 
Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), 
which added, among other changes, a requirement that the standards be 
developed with the assistance of expert medical advice.

DATES: You must submit comments concerning this ANPRM on or before June 
15, 2006.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments to the DOT Docket Management System 
Number in the heading of this document by any of the following methods. 
Do not submit the same comments by more than one method. However, in 
order to allow effective public participation in this rulemaking before 
the comment period deadline, the Agency encourages use of the Web site 
that is listed first. It will provide the most efficient and timely 
method of receiving and processing your comments.
     The Web site: https://dms.dot.gov. Follow the instructions 
for submitting comments on the DOT electronic docket site.
     Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, 
Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the 
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays.
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.
    Instructions: All submissions must include the organization name 
and docket number or Regulatory Identification Number for this 
regulatory action. Note that all comments received will be posted 
without change to https://dms.dot.gov, including any personal 
information provided. Refer to the Privacy Act heading for further 
information. If addressing a specific request for comments in this 
ANPRM, please clearly identify the related section heading or question 
number for each topic addressed in your comments.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received, go to https://dms.dot.gov at any time or to Room PL- 
401 on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., 
Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays.
    Private Act: Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all 
comments received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual 
submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf 
of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT's 
complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on 
April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477) or you may visit https://dms.dot.gov.
    Comments received after the comment closing date will be included 
in the docket and the agency will consider late comments to the extent 
practicable. FMCSA may, however, issue a notice of proposed rulemaking 
at any time after the close of the comment period.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Mary D. Gunnels, Chief, Physical 
Qualifications Division, FMCSA, 400

[[Page 13802]]

Seventh Street, SW., Room 8301, Washington, DC 20590; (202) 366-4001.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Copies or abstracts of all documents 
referenced in this notice are in the docket for this rulemaking: FMCSA-
2005-23151.

Legal Basis for the Rulemaking

    FMCSA has authority (delegated from the Secretary of Transportation 
(Secretary) by 49 CFR 1.73) to establish the minimum qualifications, 
including medical and physical qualifications, for drivers of CMVs 
operated in interstate commerce. 49 U.S.C. 31136(a)(3) and 31502(b). As 
amended by section 4116(b) of SAFETEA-LU, (Pub. L. 109-59, 119 Stat. 
1728, Aug. 10, 2005), section 31136(a)(3) requires that, at a minimum, 
safety regulations shall ensure that the physical conditions of 
operators of CMVs adequately enable them to operate the vehicles safely 
and that the periodic physical examinations required of such operators 
are performed by medical examiners who have received training in 
physical and medical examination standards.
    These new provisions added by SAFETEA-LU are clearly intended to 
ensure that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (``FMCSRs'') 
contain physical qualification standards that reflect the advice of the 
agency's newly authorized Medical Review Board and Chief Medical 
Examiner. 49 U.S.C. 31149(a) and (b).\1\ Under new section 31149(c), 
the Agency, with the advice of the board and the chief medical 
examiner, is directed to ``establish, review and revise * * * medical 
standards for operators of commercial motor vehicles that will ensure 
that the physical condition of operators of commercial motor vehicles 
is adequate to enable them to operate the vehicles safely.'' The 
purpose of these provisions in section 31149 is to ensure that the 
physical and medical qualifications standards for CMV drivers reflect 
up-to date, expert medical advice drawn from ``expertise in a variety 
of medical specialties relevant to the driver fitness requirements.'' 
49 U.S.C. 31149(a)(2) and House Conf. Report No. 109-203 (July 28, 
2005) at 990.
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    \1\ New section 31149, added by section 4116(a) of SAFETEA-LU, 
becomes effective on August 10, 2006, in accordance with section 
4116(f), 119 Stat. 1728, (Aug. 10, 2005) (set out as a note to 49 
U.S.C. 31149). However, FMCSA has already announced the 
establishment of the Medical Review Board under the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act. 70 FR 57642 (Oct. 3, 2005).
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    In addition to the statutory factors that are specific to the 
physical qualifications of CMV drivers, FMCSA must also consider 
another factor. Any physical and medical qualifications it establishes 
or revises must ensure, at a minimum, that ``the operation of 
commercial motor vehicles does not have a deleterious effect on the 
physical condition of operators'' as required by 49 U.S.C. 31136(a)(4) 
and Public Citizen et al. v. Federal Motor Carrier Safety 
Administration, 374 F.3d 1209, 1216 (D.C. Cir. 2004). The D.C. Circuit 
noted, in that case however, that it was not ``suggest[ing] that the 
statute requires the agency to protect driver health to the exclusion 
of those other factors [i.e., the costs and benefits of the rule], only 
that the agency must consider it.'' Id. at 1217 (emphasis in original). 
In order to properly consider this factor in developing physical 
qualifications standards the agency must consider both (1) the effect 
of driver health on the safety of commercial motor vehicle operations; 
and (2) the effect of such operations on driver health.
    Finally, before prescribing any regulations, FMCSA must also 
consider their ``costs and benefits'' 49 U.S.C. 31136(c)(2)(A) and 
31502(d). Those factors are also discussed in the Rulemaking Analysis 
section.

History of Federal Regulation of Drivers With Insulin-Treated Diabetes 
Mellitus

    Beginning in 1940, under the Interstate Commerce Commission's Motor 
Carrier Safety Regulations (4 FR 2294, June 7, 1939, effective date 
January 1, 1940), CMV drivers have been subject to urine glucose tests 
as part of medical examinations for determining whether a person is 
physically qualified to drive in interstate or foreign commerce. 
Starting in 1971 (35 FR 6458, April 22, 1970, effective date January 1, 
1971), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) (the predecessor to 
FMCSA) established the current standard for drivers with ITDM. This 
standard states that a ``person is physically qualified to drive a 
commercial motor vehicle if that person has no established medical 
history or clinical diagnosis of diabetes mellitus currently requiring 
insulin for control.'' 49 CFR 391.41(b)(3). FHWA established the 
standard, in consultation with medical advisers, mainly because several 
crash studies indicated that drivers with ITDM had higher rates of 
crashes compared to the general driving population.
    FHWA then became engaged in several activities to address the issue 
of drivers with ITDM and CMV operation. On March 28, 1977, FHWA 
published an ANPRM to solicit comments on the standard for drivers with 
ITDM (42 FR 16452). It terminated the rulemaking in November 1977 
without amending the standard, after determining that the more 
substantive comments and the literature cited in the ANPRM supported 
the prohibition against the operation of CMVs by drivers with ITDM 
because of highway safety concerns (42 FR 57488). On November 25, 1987, 
the agency published a new ANPRM (52 FR 45204) requesting comments on 
petitions from two individuals and the American Diabetes Association to 
eliminate the blanket prohibition against drivers with ITDM and to 
grant waivers on a case-by-case basis.
    In September 1987, the Conference on Diabetic Disorders and 
Commercial Drivers was held to review the drivers with ITDM standard in 
light of advances in the care of individuals with ITDM. Conference 
participants (physicians, scientists, Federal officials and 
representatives from the motor carrier industry) recommended that some 
drivers with ITDM could be qualified to drive depending upon insulin 
use and under certain conditions (e.g., absence of recurrent 
hypoglycemia, safe driving record) (FHWA, Conference on Diabetic 
Disorders and Commercial Drivers; Final Report, 1988). Following the 
conference, FHWA published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (55 FR 
41028, Oct. 5, 1990) requesting comments on a proposal to revise the 
drivers with ITDM standard to allow individuals with ITDM to operate 
CMVs and sponsored a 1990 risk assessment that estimated various levels 
of crashes among drivers with ITDM depending upon the severity of 
hypoglycemia (Federal Highway Administration, Insulin-using Commercial 
Motor Vehicle Drivers, 1992). The level of crashes of drivers with ITDM 
was similar to that of drivers without diabetes mellitus. FHWA 
published a Notice of Intent to Issue Waivers on October 21, 1992 (57 
FR 48011). This led to the July 29, 1993 waiver program (58 FR 40690), 
including the waiver requirements that a driver with ITDM have a three-
year safe driving record while using insulin and regular medical 
examinations by a board-certified or board-eligible endocrinologist.
    The diabetes waiver program was terminated in 1996 in response to a 
ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia 
Circuit. In Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety v. FHWA, 28 F.3d 1288 
(D.C. Cir. 1994), the court held that the vision waiver program was not 
consistent with the statutory standard that required that a waiver be 
``consistent with the safe operation of commercial motor vehicles.'' 28 
F.3d at 1293 (quoting former 49 U.S.C. App. 2505(f)). Although the 
decision initially affected

[[Page 13803]]

only the vision waiver program, it had an impact on the diabetes 
program because of the similar approach used to determine driver 
eligibility. Those drivers holding waivers at the program's termination 
were allowed to continue to operate CMVs in interstate commerce under 
the grandfather provisions of 49 CFR 391.64.
    In 1998, section 4018 of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st 
Century, Public Law 105-178, 112 Stat. 413-4 (TEA-21) (set out as a 
note to 49 U.S.C. 31305) directed the Secretary to determine the 
feasibility to develop ``a practicable and cost-effective screening, 
operating and monitoring protocol'' for allowing drivers with ITDM to 
operate CMVs in interstate commerce ``that would ensure a level of 
safety equal to or greater than that achieved with the current 
prohibition on individuals with insulin treated diabetes mellitus 
driving such vehicles.'' As directed by section 4018, FHWA compiled and 
evaluated the available research and information. It assembled a panel 
of medical experts in the treatment of diabetes to investigate and 
report on the issues concerned with the treatment, medical screening 
and monitoring of ITDM individuals in the context of operating CMVs. 
FMCSA then submitted to Congress in July 2000 a report entitled ``A 
Report to Congress on the Feasibility of a Program to Qualify 
Individuals with Insulin Treated Diabetes Mellitus to Operate 
Commercial Motor Vehicles in Interstate Commerce as Directed by the 
Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century,'' (TEA-21 Report to 
Congress). The motor carrier regulatory functions of the FHWA were 
transferred to the FMCSA in the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 
1999, Public Law 106-159, 113 Stat. 1748, Dec. 9, 1999. The Report to 
Congress concluded that it is feasible to establish a safe and 
practicable protocol with three components that would allow some 
drivers with ITDM to operate CMVs. The three components included 
screening of qualified drivers, establishing operational requirements 
ensuring proper disease management by such drivers, and monitoring of 
safe driving behavior and proper disease management. For a detailed 
discussion of the report's findings and conclusions, refer to the 
notice published at 66 FR 39548 (July 31, 2001). The TEA-21 Report to 
Congress can be accessed in the docket in the heading of this notice 
FMCSA-2005-23151, item 1, in the DOT Docket Management System at: 
https://dmses.dot.gov/docimages/p64/139973.tif; or https://dmses.dot.gov/
docimages/pdf71/139973_web.pdf; or on FMCSA's Web site at: https://
www.fmcsa.dot.gov/facts-research/research-technology/publications/
medreports.htm.
    As a result of the conclusions found in the TEA-21 Report to 
Congress, the July 31, 2001 notice proposed to implement those 
conclusions and recommendations by issuing exemptions from the FMCSRs 
to allow operations of CMVs by drivers with ITDM. After receiving and 
considering comments on the proposed use of exemptions to implement the 
TEA-21 Report to Congress, FMCSA issued a Notice of Final Disposition 
establishing the procedures and protocols for implementing the 
exemptions for drivers with ITDM. 68 FR 52441 (September 3, 2003) 
(``2003 Notice''). In order to obtain an exemption, a CMV driver with 
ITDM must follow the basic requirements for obtaining an exemption set 
out in 49 CFR part 381, subpart C. FMCSA may not grant an exemption 
unless it would maintain a level of safety equivalent to, or greater 
than, the level achieved without the exemption. 49 U.S.C. 31315 and 49 
CFR 381.305(a).
    In conformity with the conclusions of the TEA-21 Report to 
Congress, the 2003 Notice implemented, with a few modifications, the 
three components of the protocol recommended in the report, to allow 
drivers with ITDM to be qualified with an exemption from the FMCSRs to 
operate CMVs. FMCSA published the first notice granting exemptions to 
four drivers with ITDM on September 2, 2005 (70 FR 52465), after notice 
and opportunity for public comment on May 5, 2005 (70 FR 23904).

Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A 
Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU)

    Section 4129 of SAFETEA-LU required FMCSA to begin, within 90 days 
of enactment, to revise the 2003 Notice to allow drivers who use 
insulin to treat diabetes to operate CMVs in interstate commerce. The 
revision must provide for individual assessment of drivers with ITDM, 
and be consistent with the criteria described in section 4018 of TEA-
21. Section 4129 required two substantive changes to be made in the 
exemption process set out in the 2003 Notice.\2\
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    \2\ Section 4129(a) refers to the 2003 Notice as a ``final 
rule.'' However, as indicated above, the 2003 Notice did not issue a 
``final rule'' but did establish the procedures and standards for 
issuing exemptions for drivers with ITDM.
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    In order to accomplish these changes within the 90-day time frame 
established by section 4129, FMCSA made immediate revisions to the 
diabetes exemption program established by the 2003 Notice. These 
revisions by FMCSA were necessary to respond to the specific changes 
mandated by section 4129(b) and (c). The changes are: (1) Elimination 
of the requirement for three years of experience operating CMVs while 
being treated with insulin; and (2) establishment of a specified 
minimum period of insulin use to demonstrate stable control of diabetes 
before being allowed to operate a CMV.
    Section 4129(d) also directed FMCSA to ensure that CMV drivers with 
ITDM are not held to a higher standard than other drivers, with the 
exception of limited operating, monitoring and medical requirements 
that are deemed medically necessary. FMCSA concluded that all of the 
operating, monitoring and medical requirements set out in the 2003 
Notice, except as modified, were in compliance with section 4129(d). 
All of the requirements set out in the 2003 Notice, other than those 
modified in the Notice in the Federal Register on November 8, 2005 (70 
FR 67777), remain in effect.
    The changes to the exemption program (i.e., elimination of the 
requirement for three years of experience and establishment of a 
specified minimum period of insulin use) became effective upon 
publication of the November 8, 2005 Notice. As this ANPRM indicates, 
FMCSA is considering whether to revise the FMCSRs to allow certain 
drivers with ITDM to operate CMVs in interstate commerce. Unless and 
until the agency issues a final rule, however, drivers with ITDM must 
continue to hold exemptions from the application of 49 CFR 391.41(b)(3) 
to operate in interstate commerce.

Requests for Information and Comments

    FMCSA requests responses to the following questions, as well as 
comments and data on other issues related to CMV drivers with ITDM who 
operate in interstate commerce:
    (1) Currently, CMV drivers with ITDM must hold an exemption from 
the ITDM prohibition to operate in interstate commerce. What 
modifications to the ITDM prohibition in 49 CFR 391.41 should FMCSA 
consider to enable such drivers to operate safely in interstate 
commerce without an exemption?
    (2) How should FMCSA ensure that health care professionals who 
might be applying any revised standards do so in a consistent and 
appropriate manner which ensures both that the physical conditions of 
such drivers are adequate to enable them to operate safely and that

[[Page 13804]]

the operation of CMVs is not deleterious to their health?
    (3) FMCSA also requests public comments on the changes made in the 
current exemption program for CMV drivers with ITDM that were made by 
the November 8, 2005 Notice.
    (4) Should FMCSA allow medical examiners to assume responsibility 
for making an individual determination of the ITDM driver's ability to 
manage this health condition, or should the agency require the 
physician responsible for treating the driver's ITDM to certify the 
driver meets the revised diabetes standard?
    (5) Should the agency revise the medical certificate to be issued 
by the medical examiner to a driver with ITDM to include certification 
from the ``treating physician'' in addition to the medical examiner?
    (6) Each medical examiner has discretion to set the expiration date 
on a driver's medical certificate so that it is valid for any period up 
to 24 months, based on the examiner's determination of how often a 
driver needs to be re-examined, such as for a specific health condition 
(e.g., hypertension). What should the Federal standard maximum period 
of medical certification be for drivers with ITDM?
    (7) What changes in health condition of drivers with ITDM (e.g., 
hypoglycemia-induced incidents) should be reported? What changes in 
crash/incident data (e.g., each crash) should be reported? Who should 
be responsible for such reports? To whom should these reports be 
submitted?
    (8) A number of States offer exemption, waiver, or grandfather 
programs for drivers with ITDM. Other States do not allow drivers with 
ITDM to operate without an exception/exemption. Would States that 
prohibit drivers with ITDM from operating CMVs continue to do so or 
would States adopt rules comparable with the new Federal standard? How 
many drivers with ITDM are currently operating commercially in these 
States? If these States have any evidence as to whether ITDM drivers 
operating CMVs are as safe, safer, or less safe than non-insulin-
treated diabetic drivers or non-diabetic drivers, FMCSA would like 
these States to provide such evidence or identify any sources where 
FMCSA may obtain such evidence. Also please describe any analysis that 
has been done on these ITDM drivers, and any special oversight that 
States conduct.
    (9) Should new and emerging therapies for treatment of diabetes 
mellitus be considered in reviewing and revising the current standard? 
If so, how? If a revised FMCSA standard for drivers with ITDM is 
established, how would new and emerging therapies, particularly 
injectable medications (e.g., incretin mimetics) and continuous 
subcutaneous insulin infusion therapy, affect the implementation of a 
new standard?
    (10) What quantitative data are there on safety performance of 
drivers with ITDM? Do these studies link efficacy of medication and 
therapy with risk and incidence of crashes in commercial and non-
commercial motor vehicles? If so, how?
    (11) How many individuals with ITDM are likely to enter the motor 
carrier occupation if the current medical standards are changed to 
allow them to drive in interstate commerce?
    (12) The TEA-21 Report to Congress discusses occupational and 
health risks and challenges for individuals with ITDM who operate CMVs. 
Are there additional occupational and health risks and challenges the 
TEA-21 Report to Congress did not discuss? Are there additional 
attributes of this occupation, which may make it particularly difficult 
for such drivers to manage their condition? Are these attributes 
characteristic of certain segments of the industry? Should individuals 
with ITDM be restricted to operating in only certain segments of the 
industry (e.g., driving locally or short-haul, but not long-haul)?
    (13) What are the potential operational stressors and physical 
impacts associated with CMV driving that may adversely impact a CMV 
operator with ITDM? Please provide references or available peer-
reviewed research data.

Rulemaking Analyses and Notices

Executive Order 12866 (Regulatory Planning and Review) and DOT 
Regulatory Policies and Procedures

    FMCSA has determined this ANPRM is a significant regulatory action 
within the meaning of Executive Order 12866 and the Department of 
Transportation regulatory policies and procedures (44 FR 11034, 
February 26, 1979). The Office of Management and Budget has reviewed 
this ANPRM as required by Executive Order 12866.
    The Agency is not yet in a position to analyze fully any potential 
actions it may initiate in response to this ANPRM. FMCSA seeks comments 
on the following issues to guide our analysis for a potential notice of 
proposed rulemaking:
    (1) The costs and benefits of potentially effective and reasonably 
feasible alternatives to the current regulations, including improving 
the current regulation and reasonably viable non-regulatory actions; 
and
    (2) Any preliminary impact assessments of these regulatory and non-
regulatory alternatives on the health of CMV drivers with ITDM.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612), as amended by 
the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement and Fairness Act (Pub. L. 
104-121), (RFA) requires Federal agencies to analyze the impact of 
regulatory alternatives on small entities, unless FMCSA certifies that 
a regulatory alternative will not have a significant economic impact on 
a substantial number of small entities, and to consider non-regulatory 
alternatives that could achieve our goal while minimizing the burden on 
small entities.
    The Agency is not yet in a position to analyze fully any potential 
actions it may initiate in response to this ANPRM.
    FMCSA requests comments and data from the public on how potential 
alternatives may impact small motor carriers, including owner-
operators, who may employ or use a driver with ITDM. This information 
would represent a major input to estimating the costs of any potential 
alternatives on small entities. The agency also specifically requests 
comments on the benefits of potential alternatives. In addition, FMCSA 
asks entities and associations of small entities to identify their 
gross revenues.

Executive Order 13132 (Federalism)

    Although the agency believes there are no Federalism issues, the 
agency is not yet in a position to analyze fully any potential actions 
in accordance with the principles and criteria contained in Executive 
Order 13132, (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999). As stated earlier in this 
ANPRM, FMCSA and its predecessors have regulated the physical condition 
of drivers with ITDM since 1971. The agency believes regulating drivers 
with ITDM in interstate commerce is an issue that is national in scope. 
The agency specifically requests comment from State and local officials 
on any Federalism issues.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995

    The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-4; 2 U.S.C. 
1532) requires each agency to assess the effects of its regulatory 
actions on State, local, and tribal governments and the private sector. 
Any agency promulgating a final rule likely to result in a Federal 
mandate requiring expenditures by a

[[Page 13805]]

State, local, or tribal government, or by the private sector of $120.7 
million or more in 2003 dollars in any one year, must prepare a written 
statement incorporating various assessments, estimates, and 
descriptions that are delineated in the Act. Although FMCSA believes 
there would be no unfunded mandates arising from any change in the 
current standard, the Agency is not yet in a position to analyze fully 
any potential actions it may initiate and that may meet the 
requirements of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act. FMCSA seeks specific 
comments whether such impacts are likely for any regulatory or non-
regulatory alternative for agency consideration.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), a 
Federal agency must obtain approval from OMB for each collection of 
information it conducts, sponsors, or requires through regulations.
    Current exemption program applicants provide personal, employee 
health and driving information during the application process. There 
may be additional health information required as a result of this 
rulemaking action. The agency is not yet in a position to analyze fully 
any potential action the agency may initiate that may fall within the 
scope of the Paperwork Reduction Act. If FMCSA initiates a potential 
regulatory alternative in the future, incorporating these or other 
relevant provisions, the Agency would seek approval of any collection 
of information requirements to generate, maintain, retain, disclose, 
and provide information to, or for, the agency under 49 CFR part 391.

National Environmental Policy Act

    It is not expected that this rulemaking will have environmental 
impacts, although the agency is not yet in a position to analyze fully 
any potential actions under the requirements of the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321-4370f) and our 
environmental procedures Order 5610.1 (issued on March 1, 2004, 69 FR 
9680). The agency believes potential actions the agency may initiate in 
response to this ANPRM may be categorically excluded (CE) from further 
environmental documentation under Appendix 2.6.d. and 2.6.z. of Order 
5610.1, which contain categorical exclusions for regulations concerning 
the training, qualifying, licensing, certifying, and managing of 
personnel and regulations establishing minimum qualifications for 
persons who drive CMVs as, for, or on behalf of motor carriers. In 
addition, FMCSA believes potential actions the agency may initiate 
would not involve extraordinary circumstances that would affect the 
quality of the environment.
    FMCSA is not yet in a position to analyze fully any potential 
actions under the requirements of the Clean Air Act, as amended (CAA) 
section 176(c), (42 U.S.C. 7401-7671) and implementing regulations 
promulgated by the Environmental Protection Agency. FMCSA believes 
potential actions the agency may initiate would be exempt from the 
CAA's General conformity requirement since they would involve policy 
development and civil enforcement activities, such as investigations, 
inspections, examinations, and the training of law enforcement 
personnel. See 40 CFR 93.153(c)(2). The agency anticipates potential 
actions the agency may initiate in response to this ANPRM would not 
result in any emissions increase or result in emissions that are above 
the general conformity rule's de minimis emission threshold levels 
because potential actions would merely establish standards for drivers 
to control their diabetes mellitus.
    The agency seeks comment on the effect on the environment of any 
potential action alternatives.

Executive Order 12630 (Taking of Private Property)

    The Agency is not yet in a position to analyze fully any potential 
actions that may constitute a taking of private property or otherwise 
have taking implications under Executive Order 12630, Governmental 
Actions and Interference with Constitutionally Protected Property 
Rights. FMCSA seeks comment on whether potential actions it may 
initiate in response to this ANPRM would constitute a taking of private 
property or otherwise have implications under Executive Order 12630.

Executive Order 12372 (Intergovernmental Review)

    The agency is not yet in a position to analyze fully any potential 
actions that may require intergovernmental consultation on Federal 
programs and activities under Executive Order 12372, as amended. FMCSA 
seeks comment on whether potential actions the agency may initiate in 
response to this ANPRM would require any intergovernmental consultation 
on Federal programs and activities under Executive Order 12372, as 
amended.

Executive Order 13211 (Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use)

    FMCSA is not yet in a position to analyze fully any potential 
actions that may affect energy supply, distribution, or use under 
Executive Order 13211, Actions Concerning Regulations That 
Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use. The agency 
seeks comment on whether potential actions the agency may initiate in 
response to this ANPRM would affect any regulatory or non-regulatory 
alternatives that may significantly affect energy supply, distribution, 
or use.

Executive Order 12988 (Civil Justice Reform)

    The agency is not yet in a position to analyze fully any potential 
actions that may meet applicable standards in sections 3(a) and 3(b)(2) 
of Executive Order 12988, Civil Justice Reform, to minimize litigation, 
eliminate ambiguity, and reduce burden. The agency seeks comment on 
whether potential actions FMCSA may initiate in response to this ANPRM 
would meet the standards in Executive Order 12988.

List of Subjects in 49 CFR Part 391

    Alcohol abuse, Diabetes, Drug abuse, Drug testing, Highway safety, 
Medical, Motor carriers, Physical qualifications, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, Safety, Transportation.

    Issued on: March 6, 2006.
Annette M. Sandberg,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 06-2417 Filed 3-16-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P