Medical Review Board Meeting, 60605-60606 [E6-17031]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 198 / Friday, October 13, 2006 / Notices Department of Transportation at the address provided in the caption FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205, Highway Planning and Construction. The regulations implementing Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental consultation on Federal programs and activities apply to this program.) (Authority: 23 U.S.C. 315; 49 CFR 1.48) Dated: October 5, 2006. Philip E. Barnes, Division Administrator, FHWA, Iowa Division. [FR Doc. E6–17015 Filed 10–12–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–22–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration [Docket No. FMCSA–2006–25853] Medical Review Board Meeting Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), United States Department of Transportation (DOT). ACTION: Notice; Medical Review Board (MRB) public meeting. ycherry on PROD1PC64 with NOTICES2 AGENCY: SUMMARY: FMCSA announces that its MRB will hold a public meeting. The MRB members will continue deliberations about current FMCSA medical standards, as well as consider recommendations for new science-based standards and guidelines to ensure that the physical condition of drivers is adequate to enable them to safely operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce. In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), the meeting is open to the public. DATES: The MRB meeting will be held from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on November 1, 2006. ADDRESSES: The meeting will take place at the U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Rooms PL–6244 and 6248, Washington, DC 20590–0001. The public must enter through the Southwest Visitor Entrance and comply with building security procedures, including provision of appropriate identification prior to being accompanied by a Federal employee to the meeting rooms. You may submit comments identified by DOT Docket Management System (DMS) Docket Number FMCSA–2006– 25853 using any of the following methods: • Web site: https://dmses.dot.gov/ submit. Follow the instructions for VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:21 Oct 12, 2006 Jkt 211001 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 number 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 acknowledgment 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 U.S. Department of Transportation’s complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477; Apr. 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, FMCSA, Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590–0001. Office hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Information on Services for Individuals With Disabilities: For information on facilities or services for individuals with disabilities or to request special assistance at the PO 00000 Frm 00145 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 60605 meeting, contact Kaye Kirby at 202– 366–4001. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The preliminary agenda for the meeting includes: 0900–0920 Call to Order, Agenda Review 0920–1000 Methodology of MetaAnalysis 1000–1200 Evidence Report Consensus Statement Presentation Commercial Driving with Diabetes Mellitus 1200–1245 Lunch Break* 1245–1330 Preliminary Report on Schedule II Medications 1330–1415 Data Sources 1415–1500 Public Comment Period 1500–1530 Agenda Setting-January 10, 2007 Other Business 1530 Adjourn *Breaks will be announced on meeting day and may be adjusted according to schedule changes, other meeting requirements. Background The U.S. Secretary of Transportation announced on March 7, 2006, the five medical experts who will serve on FMCSA’s new MRB. Section 4116 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA–LU, Pub. L. 109–59) requires the Secretary of Transportation with the advice of the MRB to ‘‘establish, review, and revise medical standards for operators of CMVs that will ensure that the physical condition of operators is adequate to enable them operate the vehicles safely.’’ FMCSA is planning updates to the physical qualification regulations of commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers, and the MRB will provide the necessary sciencebased guidance to establish realistic and responsible medical standards. The MRB will operate in accordance with FACA as announced in the Federal Register (70 FR 57642, October 3, 2005). The MRB will be charged initially with the review of all current FMCSA medical standards (49 CFR 391.41), as well as proposing new science-based standards and guidelines to ensure that drivers operating CMVs in interstate commerce, as defined in CFR 390.5, are physically capable of doing so. Meeting Participation Attendance is open to all interested parties, including the general public, medical professionals, motor carriers, drivers and representatives of associations. Written comments for the MRB meeting are now being accepted and will continue to be accepted until November 16, 2006. Written comments should include the docket number that E:\FR\FM\13OCN1.SGM 13OCN1 60606 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 198 / Friday, October 13, 2006 / Notices is listed in the ADDRESSES section. During the meeting, public oral comments will be accepted for 45 minutes (2:15 p.m. to 3 p.m.). Individual comments may be limited depending on the number of persons who wish to comment. Oral comments will be accepted on a first come, first serve basis as requestors register at the meeting. The comments must directly address relevant medical and scientific issues on the MRB meeting agenda. For more information, please view the following Web site: https:// www.fmcsa.dot.gov/mrb. Issued on: October 6, 2006. John H. Hill, Administrator. [FR Doc. E6–17031 Filed 10–12–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration [Docket No. FMCSA–2006–24278] Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Requests; Epilepsy and Seizure Disorders Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of applications for exemptions, request for comments. ycherry on PROD1PC64 with NOTICES2 AGENCY: SUMMARY: FMCSA announces receipt of applications from four individuals for exemptions from the prohibition against persons with a clinical diagnosis of epilepsy (or any other condition which is likely to cause a loss of consciousness or any loss of ability to control a commercial motor vehicle (CMV)), operating trucks and buses in interstate commerce. If granted, the exemptions would enable these individuals with seizure disorders to operate CMVs in interstate commerce. All records associated with these requests are available in the public docket. DATES: Comments must be received on or before November 13, 2006. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by Department of Transportation (DOT) Docket Management System (DMS) Docket Number FMCSA–2006–24278 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, VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:21 Oct 12, 2006 Jkt 211001 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 on-line instructions for submitting comments. Instructions: All submissions must include the Agency name and docket number 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 below. 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 acknowledgment 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; Apr. 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., 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: Background Under 49 U.S.C. 31315 and 31136(e), FMCSA may grant an exemption for a 2year 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 statute also PO 00000 Frm 00146 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 allows the agency to renew exemptions at the end of the 2-year period. The individuals listed in this notice have recently requested an exemption from the epilepsy prohibition in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(8), which applies to drivers of CMVs in interstate commerce. Section 391.41(b)(8) 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 epilepsy or any other condition which is likely to cause the loss of consciousness, or any loss of ability to control a commercial motor vehicle. FMCSA provides medical advisory criteria for use by medical examiners in determining whether drivers with certain medical conditions should be certified to operate CMVs in interstate commerce. Currently, FMCSA’s medical advisory criteria includes a recommendation that individuals diagnosed with epilepsy and taking anticonvulsant medication to reduce the likelihood of seizures are at high risk for further episodes and should not be considered for medical certification. Drivers diagnosed with epilepsy and taking anticonvulsant medication which helps them control their seizures may be at low risk, however, these individuals are exposed to conditions which place them at increased risk for loss of consciousness and therefore increased risk for seizure occurrence, and the acquisition of replacement anti-seizure medication if drugs are lost or forgotten, place such individuals at some increase in risk. These individuals should not be authorized to drive commercial vehicles. Drivers diagnosed with epilepsy, seizure free and off medication for 10 years may be medically certified to operate CMVs. FMCSA further notes that individuals who experience a single unprovoked seizure, but do not have epilepsy, per se, are clearly at a higher risk than the general population to have further seizures. Individuals with a single unprovoked seizure, seizure-free for a 5year period and off medications, should not be restricted from obtaining a license to operate a CMV. The history of the occurrence of febrile seizures in childhood should not be a restriction to licensing to operate a CMV. Seizures, in the context of a systemic metabolic dysfunction, should not be a primary reason for restriction from medical certification to operate a CMV. Any restriction should be based upon the risk of recurrence of the primary condition. There are several conditions in which the risk for unprovoked seizures is sufficiently high, even in the absence of the occurrence of acute E:\FR\FM\13OCN1.SGM 13OCN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 198 (Friday, October 13, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60605-60606]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-17031]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2006-25853]


Medical Review Board Meeting

AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), United 
States Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice; Medical Review Board (MRB) public meeting.

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

SUMMARY: FMCSA announces that its MRB will hold a public meeting. The 
MRB members will continue deliberations about current FMCSA medical 
standards, as well as consider recommendations for new science-based 
standards and guidelines to ensure that the physical condition of 
drivers is adequate to enable them to safely operate commercial motor 
vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce. In accordance with the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act (FACA), the meeting is open to the public.

DATES: The MRB meeting will be held from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on 
November 1, 2006.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will take place at the U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Rooms PL-6244 
and 6248, Washington, DC 20590-0001. The public must enter through the 
Southwest Visitor Entrance and comply with building security 
procedures, including provision of appropriate identification prior to 
being accompanied by a Federal employee to the meeting rooms.
    You may submit comments identified by DOT Docket Management System 
(DMS) Docket Number FMCSA-2006-25853 using any of the following 
methods:
     Web site: https://dmses.dot.gov/submit. 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 number 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 acknowledgment 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 U.S. Department of Transportation's complete Privacy 
Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 
FR 19477; Apr. 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, FMCSA, Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001. 
Office hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays.

Information on Services for Individuals With Disabilities:

    For information on facilities or services for individuals with 
disabilities or to request special assistance at the meeting, contact 
Kaye Kirby at 202-366-4001.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    The preliminary agenda for the meeting includes:
0900-0920 Call to Order, Agenda Review
0920-1000 Methodology of Meta-Analysis
1000-1200 Evidence Report Consensus Statement Presentation Commercial 
Driving with Diabetes Mellitus
1200-1245 Lunch Break*
1245-1330 Preliminary Report on Schedule II Medications
1330-1415 Data Sources
1415-1500 Public Comment Period
1500-1530 Agenda Setting-January 10, 2007 Other Business
1530 Adjourn
*Breaks will be announced on meeting day and may be adjusted according 
to schedule changes, other meeting requirements.

Background

    The U.S. Secretary of Transportation announced on March 7, 2006, 
the five medical experts who will serve on FMCSA's new MRB. Section 
4116 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation 
Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU, Pub. L. 109-59) requires 
the Secretary of Transportation with the advice of the MRB to 
``establish, review, and revise medical standards for operators of CMVs 
that will ensure that the physical condition of operators is adequate 
to enable them operate the vehicles safely.'' FMCSA is planning updates 
to the physical qualification regulations of commercial motor vehicle 
(CMV) drivers, and the MRB will provide the necessary science-based 
guidance to establish realistic and responsible medical standards.
    The MRB will operate in accordance with FACA as announced in the 
Federal Register (70 FR 57642, October 3, 2005). The MRB will be 
charged initially with the review of all current FMCSA medical 
standards (49 CFR 391.41), as well as proposing new science-based 
standards and guidelines to ensure that drivers operating CMVs in 
interstate commerce, as defined in CFR 390.5, are physically capable of 
doing so.

Meeting Participation

    Attendance is open to all interested parties, including the general 
public, medical professionals, motor carriers, drivers and 
representatives of associations. Written comments for the MRB meeting 
are now being accepted and will continue to be accepted until November 
16, 2006. Written comments should include the docket number that

[[Page 60606]]

is listed in the ADDRESSES section. During the meeting, public oral 
comments will be accepted for 45 minutes (2:15 p.m. to 3 p.m.). 
Individual comments may be limited depending on the number of persons 
who wish to comment. Oral comments will be accepted on a first come, 
first serve basis as requestors register at the meeting. The comments 
must directly address relevant medical and scientific issues on the MRB 
meeting agenda. For more information, please view the following Web 
site: https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/mrb.

    Issued on: October 6, 2006.
John H. Hill,
Administrator.
 [FR Doc. E6-17031 Filed 10-12-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P

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