Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Vision, 27033-27034 [E6-7052]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 89 / Tuesday, May 9, 2006 / Notices • Implementation strategies, • Timeline, • Performance measures, • Monitoring and evaluation plan, and • Detailed budget (OJP Form 7150/1). SF–424 and SF–424B can be downloaded from https:// www.grants.gov. OJP Form 7150/1 can be downloaded from https:// www.ojp.usdoj.gov/Forms/ budget_fillable.pdf. Sample forms that provide a suggested format for the grant proposal and guidance on how to prepare and submit the application package are available on the FMCSA– CDL Workgroups Web site at https:// www.fmcsa.tmlsupport.com. Once at this Web site, click on your State, then click on Other Workgroups, then click on CDL & MCSAP National Workgroup, then click on File Sharing, then click on CDL, and finally click on Grant Proposal Information—updated for 2006. Each State folder on this Web site includes the amount of funds available to that State. Addresses of the FMCSA Division Offices are available on the Internet at https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/about/ contact/offices/displayfieldroster.asp. Funds will be allocated based on availability and on the State’s needs. Calculation of the amount that may be made available to each State will be based on the number of States that apply for the funds, the number of Master Pointer Records the State has on CDLIS, and the number of CDLIS transactions sent by the State within a 6-month period. The grant requests submitted by the States will be reviewed to ensure that the proposed activities are consistent with established national priorities. Those applicants approved for funding will be required to enter into a grant agreement with FMCSA, which will be executed by a Division Administrator on behalf of the agency. Issued on: May 1, 2006. Warren E. Hoemann, Acting Administrator. [FR Doc. E6–7046 Filed 5–8–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION mstockstill on PROD1PC68 with NOTICES Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration [Docket Nos. FMCSA–99–6480; FMCSA– 2000–7006; FMCSA–2000–7165; FMCSA– 2002–11714; FMCSA–2004–17195] Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Vision Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT. AGENCY: VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:42 May 08, 2006 Jkt 208001 Notice of renewal of exemption; request for comments. ACTION: SUMMARY: FMCSA announces its decision to renew the exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 31 individuals. FMCSA has statutory authority to exempt individuals from the vision requirement if the exemptions granted will not compromise safety. The Agency has concluded that granting these exemptions will provide a level of safety that will be equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety maintained without the exemptions for these commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. This decision is effective June 3, 2006. Comments must be received on or before June 8, 2006. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by DOT Docket Management System (DMS) Docket Numbers FMCSA–99–6480; FMCSA–2000–7006; FMCSA–2000–7165; FMCSA–2002– 11714; FMCSA–2004–17195, using any of the following methods. • Web Site: https://dmses.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 Agency name and docket numbers for this Notice. Note that all comments received will be posted without change to https://dms.dot.gov, including any personal information provided. Please see the Privacy Act heading for further information. Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or comments received, go to https:// dms.dot.gov at any time or 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. The DMS is available 24 hours each day, 365 days each year. If you want us to notify you that we received your comments, please include DATES: PO 00000 Frm 00114 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 27033 a self-addressed, stamped envelope or postcard or print the acknowledgement page that appears after submitting comments on-line. Privacy Act: Anyone may search the electronic form of all comments received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual submitting the comment (or of the person signing the comment, if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review the DOT’s complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477; April 11, 2000). This information is also available at https:// dms.dot.gov. Dr. Mary D. Gunnels, Chief, Physical Qualifications Division, (202) 366–4001, maggi.gunnels@dot.gov, FMCSA, Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Room 8301, Washington, DC 20590–0001. Office hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Exemption Decision Under 49 U.S.C. 31315 and 31136(e), FMCSA may renew an exemption from the vision requirements in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10), which applies to drivers of CMVs in interstate commerce, for a two-year period if it finds ‘‘such exemption would likely achieve a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level that would be achieved absent such exemption.’’ The procedures for requesting an exemption (including renewals) are set out in 49 CFR part 381. This Notice addresses 31 individuals who have requested renewal of their exemptions in a timely manner. FMCSA has evaluated these 31 applications for renewal on their merits and decided to extend each exemption for a renewable two-year period. They are: James C. Askin Paul J. Bannon Ernie E. Black Ronnie F. Bowman Gary O. Brady Michael C. Branham Trixie L. Brown Thomas L. Corey Stephen H. Goldcamp Steven F. Grass Michael S. Johannsen Mearl C. Kennedy Wai F. King Dennis E. Krone James F. Laverdure Christopher P. Lefler Richard J. McKenzie, Jr. Christopher J. Meerten E:\FR\FM\09MYN1.SGM 09MYN1 27034 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 89 / Tuesday, May 9, 2006 / Notices mstockstill on PROD1PC68 with NOTICES William J. Miller Bobby G. Minton James A. Mohr Robert J. Mohorter Charles R. Murphy Roderick F. Peterson Kenneth R. Piechnik Donald W. Sidwell David M. Smith David E. Steinke Robert L. Swartz, Jr. Elmer K. Thomas Richard G. Wendt These exemptions are extended subject to the following conditions: (1) That each individual have a physical examination every year (a) by an ophthalmologist or optometrist who attests that the vision in the better eye continues to meet the standard in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10), and (b) by a medical examiner who attests that the individual is otherwise physically qualified under 49 CFR 391.41; (2) that each individual provide a copy of the ophthalmologist’s or optometrist’s report to the medical examiner at the time of the annual medical examination; and (3) that each individual provide a copy of the annual medical certification to the employer for retention in the driver’s qualification file and retain a copy of the certification on his/her person while driving for presentation to a duly authorized Federal, State, or local enforcement official. Each exemption will be valid for two years unless rescinded earlier by FMCSA. The exemption will be rescinded if: (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 before it was granted; or (3) continuation of the exemption would not be consistent with the goals and objectives of 49 U.S.C. 31315 and 31136(e). Basis for Renewing Exemptions Under 49 U.S.C. 31315(b)(1), an exemption may be granted for no longer than two years from its approval date and may be renewed upon application for additional two year periods. In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31315 and 31136(e), each of the 31 applicants has satisfied the entry conditions for obtaining an exemption from the vision requirements (64 FR 68195; 65 FR 20251; 67 FR 38311; 69 FR 26921; 65 FR 20245; 65 FR 57230; 69 FR 17263; 69 FR 31447; 65 FR 33406; 67 FR 15662; 67 FR 37907; 69 FR 26921). Each of these 31 applicants has requested timely renewal of the exemption and has submitted evidence showing that the vision in the better eye continues to meet the standard specified at 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10) and that the vision VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:42 May 08, 2006 Jkt 208001 impairment is stable. In addition, a review of each record of safety while driving with the respective vision deficiencies over the past two years indicates each applicant continues to meet the vision exemption standards. These factors provide an adequate basis for predicting each driver’s ability to continue to drive safely in interstate commerce. Therefore, FMCSA concludes that extending the exemption for each renewal applicant for a period of two years is likely to achieve a level of safety equal to that existing without the exemption. Request for Comments FMCSA will review comments received at any time concerning a particular driver’s safety record and determine if the continuation of the exemption is consistent with the requirements at 49 U.S.C. 31315 and 31136(e). However, FMCSA requests that interested parties with specific data concerning the safety records of these drivers submit comments by June 8, 2006. FMCSA believes that the requirements for a renewal of an exemption under 49 U.S.C. 31315 and 31136(e) can be satisfied by initially granting the renewal and then requesting and evaluating, if needed, subsequently comments submitted by interested parties. As indicated above, the Agency previously published Notices of final disposition announcing its decision to exempt these 31 individuals from the vision requirement in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10). That final decision to grant the exemption to each of these individuals was based on the merits of each case and only after careful consideration of the comments received to its Notices of applications. Those Notices of applications stated in detail the qualifications, experience, and medical condition of each applicant for an exemption from the vision requirements. That information is available by consulting the above cited Federal Register publications. Interested parties or organizations possessing information that would otherwise show that any, or all of these drivers, are not currently achieving the statutory level of safety should immediately notify FMCSA. The Agency will evaluate any evidence submitted and, if safety is being compromised or if continuation of the exemption would not be consistent with the goals and objectives of 49 U.S.C. 31315 and 31136(e), FMCSA will take PO 00000 Frm 00115 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 immediate steps to revoke the exemption of a driver. Rose A. McMurray, Associate Administrator for Policy and Program Development. [FR Doc. E6–7052 Filed 5–8–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Railroad Administration Petition for Waiver of Compliance In accordance with part 211 of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), notice is hereby given that the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) received a request for a waiver of compliance with certain requirements of its safety standards. The individual petition is described below, including the party seeking relief, the regulatory provisions involved, the nature of the relief being requested, and the petitioner’s arguments in favor of relief. Lackawanna County Railroad Authority (‘‘LCRA’’) (Supplement and Extension to Waiver Docket Number FRA–2000–7275) As a supplement to Lackawanna County Railroad Authority’s (LCRA) Petition for Approval of Shared Use and Waiver of Certain FRA Regulations (the original shared use waiver was granted by the FRA Railroad Safety Board on November 24, 2000, and a six month extension was granted by the FRA Railroad Safety Board on April 7, 2006). LCRA seeks a permanent waiver of compliance from an additional section of Title 49 of the CFR, specifically part 240, Qualification and Certification of Locomotive Engineers, part 229.129 FRA Horn Rule: Audible Warning Devices. LCRA also seeks a five year extension of this amended shared use waiver for continued safe operation of its historic light rail trolley operations on shared trackage with the general railroad system of transportation (DelawareLackawanna Railroad). LCRA is including in this modified waiver request four route miles added to the historic trolley excursion since 2002, and is informing the FRA of the upcoming 1870 feet trolley route extension from its current terminus at VC Station (VC Stub Switch MP 4.78) to the newly constructed Historic Trolley Maintenance Building (this portion will be used exclusively by trolleys). LCRA submits that this request is consistent with the waiver process for Shared Use. See Statement of Agency Policy Concerning Jurisdiction Over the Safety of Railroad Passenger Operations and E:\FR\FM\09MYN1.SGM 09MYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 89 (Tuesday, May 9, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27033-27034]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-7052]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket Nos. FMCSA-99-6480; FMCSA-2000-7006; FMCSA-2000-7165; FMCSA-
2002-11714; FMCSA-2004-17195]


Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Vision

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

ACTION: Notice of renewal of exemption; request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: FMCSA announces its decision to renew the exemptions from the 
vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 
31 individuals. FMCSA has statutory authority to exempt individuals 
from the vision requirement if the exemptions granted will not 
compromise safety. The Agency has concluded that granting these 
exemptions will provide a level of safety that will be equivalent to, 
or greater than, the level of safety maintained without the exemptions 
for these commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers.

DATES: This decision is effective June 3, 2006. Comments must be 
received on or before June 8, 2006.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by DOT Docket Management 
System (DMS) Docket Numbers FMCSA-99-6480; FMCSA-2000-7006; FMCSA-2000-
7165; FMCSA-2002-11714; FMCSA-2004-17195, using any of the following 
methods.
     Web Site: https://dmses.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 Agency name and 
docket numbers for this Notice. Note that all comments received will be 
posted without change to https://dms.dot.gov, including any personal 
information provided. Please see the Privacy Act heading for further 
information.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received, go to https://dms.dot.gov at any time or 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. The DMS is available 24 hours each day, 365 
days each year. If you want us to notify you that we received your 
comments, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope or postcard 
or print the acknowledgement page that appears after submitting 
comments on-line.
    Privacy Act: Anyone may search the electronic form of all comments 
received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual 
submitting the comment (or of the person signing the comment, if 
submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). 
You may review the DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal 
Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477; April 11, 2000). 
This information is also available at https://dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Mary D. Gunnels, Chief, Physical 
Qualifications Division, (202) 366-4001, maggi.gunnels@dot.gov, FMCSA, 
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Room 8301, 
Washington, DC 20590-0001. Office hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Exemption Decision

    Under 49 U.S.C. 31315 and 31136(e), FMCSA may renew an exemption 
from the vision requirements in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10), which applies to 
drivers of CMVs in interstate commerce, for a two-year period if it 
finds ``such exemption would likely achieve a level of safety that is 
equivalent to, or greater than, the level that would be achieved absent 
such exemption.'' The procedures for requesting an exemption (including 
renewals) are set out in 49 CFR part 381. This Notice addresses 31 
individuals who have requested renewal of their exemptions in a timely 
manner. FMCSA has evaluated these 31 applications for renewal on their 
merits and decided to extend each exemption for a renewable two-year 
period. They are:

James C. Askin
Paul J. Bannon
Ernie E. Black
Ronnie F. Bowman
Gary O. Brady
Michael C. Branham
Trixie L. Brown
Thomas L. Corey
Stephen H. Goldcamp
Steven F. Grass
Michael S. Johannsen
Mearl C. Kennedy
Wai F. King
Dennis E. Krone
James F. Laverdure
Christopher P. Lefler
Richard J. McKenzie, Jr.
Christopher J. Meerten

[[Page 27034]]

William J. Miller
Bobby G. Minton
James A. Mohr
Robert J. Mohorter
Charles R. Murphy
Roderick F. Peterson
Kenneth R. Piechnik
Donald W. Sidwell
David M. Smith
David E. Steinke
Robert L. Swartz, Jr.
Elmer K. Thomas
Richard G. Wendt

    These exemptions are extended subject to the following conditions: 
(1) That each individual have a physical examination every year (a) by 
an ophthalmologist or optometrist who attests that the vision in the 
better eye continues to meet the standard in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10), and 
(b) by a medical examiner who attests that the individual is otherwise 
physically qualified under 49 CFR 391.41; (2) that each individual 
provide a copy of the ophthalmologist's or optometrist's report to the 
medical examiner at the time of the annual medical examination; and (3) 
that each individual provide a copy of the annual medical certification 
to the employer for retention in the driver's qualification file and 
retain a copy of the certification on his/her person while driving for 
presentation to a duly authorized Federal, State, or local enforcement 
official. Each exemption will be valid for two years unless rescinded 
earlier by FMCSA. The exemption will be rescinded if: (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 
before it was granted; or (3) continuation of the exemption would not 
be consistent with the goals and objectives of 49 U.S.C. 31315 and 
31136(e).

Basis for Renewing Exemptions

    Under 49 U.S.C. 31315(b)(1), an exemption may be granted for no 
longer than two years from its approval date and may be renewed upon 
application for additional two year periods. In accordance with 49 
U.S.C. 31315 and 31136(e), each of the 31 applicants has satisfied the 
entry conditions for obtaining an exemption from the vision 
requirements (64 FR 68195; 65 FR 20251; 67 FR 38311; 69 FR 26921; 65 FR 
20245; 65 FR 57230; 69 FR 17263; 69 FR 31447; 65 FR 33406; 67 FR 15662; 
67 FR 37907; 69 FR 26921). Each of these 31 applicants has requested 
timely renewal of the exemption and has submitted evidence showing that 
the vision in the better eye continues to meet the standard specified 
at 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10) and that the vision impairment is stable. In 
addition, a review of each record of safety while driving with the 
respective vision deficiencies over the past two years indicates each 
applicant continues to meet the vision exemption standards. These 
factors provide an adequate basis for predicting each driver's ability 
to continue to drive safely in interstate commerce. Therefore, FMCSA 
concludes that extending the exemption for each renewal applicant for a 
period of two years is likely to achieve a level of safety equal to 
that existing without the exemption.

Request for Comments

    FMCSA will review comments received at any time concerning a 
particular driver's safety record and determine if the continuation of 
the exemption is consistent with the requirements at 49 U.S.C. 31315 
and 31136(e). However, FMCSA requests that interested parties with 
specific data concerning the safety records of these drivers submit 
comments by June 8, 2006.
    FMCSA believes that the requirements for a renewal of an exemption 
under 49 U.S.C. 31315 and 31136(e) can be satisfied by initially 
granting the renewal and then requesting and evaluating, if needed, 
subsequently comments submitted by interested parties. As indicated 
above, the Agency previously published Notices of final disposition 
announcing its decision to exempt these 31 individuals from the vision 
requirement in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10). That final decision to grant the 
exemption to each of these individuals was based on the merits of each 
case and only after careful consideration of the comments received to 
its Notices of applications. Those Notices of applications stated in 
detail the qualifications, experience, and medical condition of each 
applicant for an exemption from the vision requirements. That 
information is available by consulting the above cited Federal Register 
publications.
    Interested parties or organizations possessing information that 
would otherwise show that any, or all of these drivers, are not 
currently achieving the statutory level of safety should immediately 
notify FMCSA. The Agency will evaluate any evidence submitted and, if 
safety is being compromised or if continuation of the exemption would 
not be consistent with the goals and objectives of 49 U.S.C. 31315 and 
31136(e), FMCSA will take immediate steps to revoke the exemption of a 
driver.

Rose A. McMurray,
Associate Administrator for Policy and Program Development.
[FR Doc. E6-7052 Filed 5-8-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P
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