Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Renewals; Vision; Correction, 6214-6215 [E9-2437]

Download as PDF 6214 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 23 / Thursday, February 5, 2009 / Notices Background Under 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315, 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 allows the Agency to renew exemptions at the end of the 2-year period. The comment period ended on January 12, 2009. Discussion of Comments FMCSA received no comments in this proceeding. Conclusion The Agency has not received any adverse evidence on any of these drivers that indicates that safety is being compromised. Based upon its evaluation of the 12 renewal applications, FMCSA renews the Federal vision exemptions for Robert W. Brown, David D. Bungori, Jr., Benny J. Burke, David R. Cox, Gary T. Hicks, Robert T. Hill, John C. McLaughlin, Kenneth D. Sisk, David W. Skillman, Rick N. Ulrich, Stephen D. Vice and Larry D. Wedekind. In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315, each renewal exemption will be valid for 2 years unless revoked earlier by FMCSA. The exemption will be revoked 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. 31136 and 31315. Issued on: January 29, 2009. Larry W. Minor, Associate Administrator for Policy and Program Development. [FR Doc. E9–2432 Filed 2–4–09; 8:45 am] DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration VerDate Nov<24>2008 16:34 Feb 04, 2009 Jkt 217001 Electronic Access You may see all the comments online through the Federal Document Management System (FDMS) at https:// www.regulations.gov, by accessing the docket numbers in the heading of this notice. FMCSA announced in the September 9, 2008, October 17, 2008 and October 31, 2008 notices that no comments were received in the proceedings. This was in error. The notices should read that comments were received. The Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety filed the same comment in all four proceedings. Corrections [Docket No. FMCSA–1999–5578; FMCSA– 1999–5748; FMCSA–1999–6480; FMCSA– 2000–7165; FMCSA–2001–11426; FMCSA 2002–11714; FMCSA–2002–12294; FMCSA– 2003–14223; FMCSA–2004–17195; FMCSA– 2004–17984; FMCSA–2005–21254; FMCSA– 2005–22194; FMCSA–2005–23238; FMCSA– 2006–24015; FMCSA–2006–24783] AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT. SUMMARY: On September 9, 2008 (73 FR 52451), October 17, 2008 (73 FR 61927), and October 31, 2008 (73 FR 65009), the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) published four notices of final disposition in the Federal Register with an inadvertent error in each. Those notices stated that the Agency did not receive comments in the proceedings. This document corrects that error, because it was brought to the Agency’s attention that comments had been submitted. This correction does not affect the Agency’s previous decision to renew the exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for the individuals specifically identified in the September 9, 2008, October 17, 2008 and October 31, 2008 final disposition notices. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Mary D. Gunnels, Director, Medical Programs, (202)–366–4001, fmcsamedical@dot.gov, 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. Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Renewals; Vision; Correction ACTION: Notice of final disposition; Correction. 1. In notice FR Doc. E8–20890 beginning on page 52451, second column, under the separate headings of Discussion of Comments and Conclusion, in the issue of Tuesday, September 9, 2008: 2. In notice FR Doc. E8–224695 beginning on page 61927, second column, under the separate headings of Discussion of Comments and Conclusion, in the issue of Friday, October 17, 2008: PO 00000 Frm 00082 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 3. In notice FR Doc. E8–224698 beginning on page 61927, third column, under the separate headings of Discussion of Comments and Conclusion, in the issue of Friday, October 17, 2008: 4. In notice FR Doc. E8–26059 beginning on page 65010, first column, under the separate headings of Discussion of Comments and Conclusion, in the issue of Friday, October 31, 2008, change to read as follows: Discussion of Comments FMCSA received one comment in this proceeding. The comment was considered and discussed below. Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates) expressed opposition to FMCSA’s policy to grant exemptions from the FMCSR, including the driver qualification standards. Specifically, Advocates: (1) Objects to the manner in which FMCSA presents driver information to the public and makes safety determinations; (2) objects to the Agency’s reliance on conclusions drawn from the vision waiver program; (3) claims the Agency has misinterpreted statutory language on the granting of exemptions (49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315); and finally (4) suggests that a 1999 Supreme Court decision affects the legal validity of vision exemptions. The issues raised by Advocates were addressed at length in 64 FR 51568 (September 23, 1999), 64 FR 66962 (November 30, 1999), 64 FR 69586 (December 13, 1999), 65 FR 159 (January 3, 2000), 65 FR 57230 (September 21, 2000), and 66 FR 13825 (March 7, 2001). We will not address these points again, but refer interested parties to those earlier discussions. Conclusion FMCSA has statutory authority to exempt individuals from the vision requirement if the exemptions granted will not compromise safety. The Agency has reviewed the comments submitted in response to the previous announcements and 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. The Agency has not received any adverse evidence on any of these drivers that indicates that safety is being compromised. Based upon evaluation of the renewal applicants, FMCSA stands by its decision to renew the exemptions from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety regulations for the 39 individuals specified in the September 9, 2008 final disposition notice, the 34 individuals E:\FR\FM\05FEN1.SGM 05FEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 23 / Thursday, February 5, 2009 / Notices and the 16 individuals specified in the two October 17, 2008 final disposition notices and the 13 individuals specified in October 31, 2008 final disposition notice. In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315, each renewal exemption will be valid for 2 years unless revoked earlier by FMCSA. The exemption will be revoked 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. 31136 and 31315. Issued on: January 29, 2009 Larry W. Minor, Associate Administrator for Policy and Program Development. [FR Doc. E9–2437 Filed 2–4–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration [Docket No. PHMSA–2009–0019 (Notice No. 09–1)] Information Collection Activities rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), DOT. ACTION: Notice and request for comments. SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, PHMSA invites comments on certain information collections pertaining to hazardous materials transportation for which PHMSA intends to request renewal from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). DATE: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before April 6, 2009. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by the docket number (PHMSA–2009–0019) by any of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. • Fax: 1–202–493–2251. • Mail: Docket Operations, U.S. Department of Transportation, West Building, Ground Floor, Room W12– 140, Routing Symbol M–30, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590. • Hand Delivery: To Docket Operations, Room W12–140 on the VerDate Nov<24>2008 16:34 Feb 04, 2009 Jkt 217001 ground floor of the West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and docket number or Regulation Identification Number (RIN) for this notice. Internet users may access comments received by DOT at: https://www.regulations.gov. Note that comments received will be posted without change to: https:// www.regulations.gov including any personal information provided. Requests for a copy of an information collection should be directed to Deborah Boothe or T. Glenn Foster, Office of Hazardous Materials Standards (PHH– 11), Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., East Building, 2nd Floor, Washington, DC 20590–0001, Telephone (202) 366–8553. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Deborah Boothe or T. Glenn Foster, Office of Hazardous Materials Standards (PHH–11), Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., East Building, 2nd Floor, Washington, DC 20590–0001, Telephone (202) 366–8553. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 1320.8(d), Title 5, Code of Federal Regulations requires PHMSA to provide interested members of the public and affected agencies an opportunity to comment on information collection and recordkeeping requests. This notice identifies information collection requests that PHMSA will be submitting to OMB for renewal and extension. These information collections are contained in 49 CFR 171.6 of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171–180). PHMSA has revised burden estimates, where appropriate, to reflect current reporting levels or adjustments based on changes in proposed or final rules published since the information collections were last approved. The following information is provided for each information collection: (1) Title of the information collection, including former title if a change is being made; (2) OMB control number; (3) summary of the information collection activity; (4) description of affected public; (5) estimate of total annual reporting and recordkeeping burden; and (6) frequency of collection. PHMSA will request a three-year term of approval for each information collection activity and, when approved by OMB, publish notice of the approval in the Federal Register. PHMSA requests comments on the following information collections: PO 00000 Frm 00083 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 6215 Title: Rulemaking, Special Permits, and Preemption Requirements. OMB Control Number: 2137–0051. Summary: This collection of information applies to rulemaking procedures regarding the HMR. Specific areas covered in this information collection include Part 105, Subpart A and Subpart B, ‘‘Hazardous Materials Program Definitions and General Procedures’’; Part 106, Subpart B, ‘‘Participating in the Rulemaking Process’’; Part 107, Subpart B, ‘‘Special Permits’’; and Part 107, Subpart C, ‘‘Preemption.’’ The Federal hazardous materials transportation law directs the Secretary of Transportation to prescribe regulations for the safe transportation of hazardous materials in commerce. We are authorized to accept petitions for rulemaking and appeals, as well as applications for exemptions, preemption determinations and waivers of preemption. The types of information collected include: (1) Petitions for Rulemaking: Any person may petition the Office of Hazardous Materials Standards to add, amend, or delete a regulation in Parts 110, 130, 171 through 180, or may petition the Office of the Chief Counsel to add, amend, or delete a regulation in Parts 105, 106 or 107. (2) Appeals: Except as provided in § 106.40(e), any person may submit an appeal to our actions in accordance with the Appeals procedures found in §§ 106.110 through 106.130. (3) Application for Special Permit: Any person applying for a special permit must include the citation of the specific regulation from which the applicant seeks relief; specification of the proposed mode or modes of transportation; detailed description of the proposed special permit (e.g., alternative packaging, test, procedure or activity), including as appropriate, written descriptions, drawings, flow charts, plans and other supporting documents, etc. (4) Application for Preemption Determination: With the exception of highway routing matters covered under 49 U.S.C. 5125(c), any person directly affected by any requirement of a State, political subdivision, or Indian tribe may apply to the Chief Counsel for a determination whether that requirement is preempted by § 107.202(a), (b) or (c). The application must include the text of the State or political subdivision or Indian tribe requirement for which the determination is sought; specify each requirement of the Federal hazardous materials transportation law, regulations issued under the Federal hazardous material transportation law, or hazardous material transportation E:\FR\FM\05FEN1.SGM 05FEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 23 (Thursday, February 5, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6214-6215]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-2437]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-1999-5578; FMCSA-1999-5748; FMCSA-1999-6480; FMCSA-
2000-7165; FMCSA-2001-11426; FMCSA 2002-11714; FMCSA-2002-12294; FMCSA-
2003-14223; FMCSA-2004-17195; FMCSA-2004-17984; FMCSA-2005-21254; 
FMCSA-2005-22194; FMCSA-2005-23238; FMCSA-2006-24015; FMCSA-2006-24783]


Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Renewals; Vision; Correction

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

ACTION: Notice of final disposition; Correction.

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

SUMMARY: On September 9, 2008 (73 FR 52451), October 17, 2008 (73 FR 
61927), and October 31, 2008 (73 FR 65009), the Federal Motor Carrier 
Safety Administration (FMCSA) published four notices of final 
disposition in the Federal Register with an inadvertent error in each. 
Those notices stated that the Agency did not receive comments in the 
proceedings. This document corrects that error, because it was brought 
to the Agency's attention that comments had been submitted. This 
correction does not affect the Agency's previous decision to renew the 
exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier 
Safety Regulations for the individuals specifically identified in the 
September 9, 2008, October 17, 2008 and October 31, 2008 final 
disposition notices.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Mary D. Gunnels, Director, Medical 
Programs, (202)-366-4001, fmcsamedical@dot.gov, 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. Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Electronic Access

    You may see all the comments online through the Federal Document 
Management System (FDMS) at https://www.regulations.gov, by accessing 
the docket numbers in the heading of this notice.

Background

    FMCSA announced in the September 9, 2008, October 17, 2008 and 
October 31, 2008 notices that no comments were received in the 
proceedings. This was in error. The notices should read that comments 
were received. The Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety filed the same 
comment in all four proceedings.

Corrections

    1. In notice FR Doc. E8-20890 beginning on page 52451, second 
column, under the separate headings of Discussion of Comments and 
Conclusion, in the issue of Tuesday, September 9, 2008:
    2. In notice FR Doc. E8-224695 beginning on page 61927, second 
column, under the separate headings of Discussion of Comments and 
Conclusion, in the issue of Friday, October 17, 2008:
    3. In notice FR Doc. E8-224698 beginning on page 61927, third 
column, under the separate headings of Discussion of Comments and 
Conclusion, in the issue of Friday, October 17, 2008:
    4. In notice FR Doc. E8-26059 beginning on page 65010, first 
column, under the separate headings of Discussion of Comments and 
Conclusion, in the issue of Friday, October 31, 2008, change to read as 
follows:

Discussion of Comments

    FMCSA received one comment in this proceeding. The comment was 
considered and discussed below.
    Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates) expressed 
opposition to FMCSA's policy to grant exemptions from the FMCSR, 
including the driver qualification standards. Specifically, Advocates: 
(1) Objects to the manner in which FMCSA presents driver information to 
the public and makes safety determinations; (2) objects to the Agency's 
reliance on conclusions drawn from the vision waiver program; (3) 
claims the Agency has misinterpreted statutory language on the granting 
of exemptions (49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315); and finally (4) suggests 
that a 1999 Supreme Court decision affects the legal validity of vision 
exemptions.
    The issues raised by Advocates were addressed at length in 64 FR 
51568 (September 23, 1999), 64 FR 66962 (November 30, 1999), 64 FR 
69586 (December 13, 1999), 65 FR 159 (January 3, 2000), 65 FR 57230 
(September 21, 2000), and 66 FR 13825 (March 7, 2001). We will not 
address these points again, but refer interested parties to those 
earlier discussions.

Conclusion

    FMCSA has statutory authority to exempt individuals from the vision 
requirement if the exemptions granted will not compromise safety. The 
Agency has reviewed the comments submitted in response to the previous 
announcements and 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. The Agency has not received any adverse 
evidence on any of these drivers that indicates that safety is being 
compromised. Based upon evaluation of the renewal applicants, FMCSA 
stands by its decision to renew the exemptions from the Federal Motor 
Carrier Safety regulations for the 39 individuals specified in the 
September 9, 2008 final disposition notice, the 34 individuals

[[Page 6215]]

and the 16 individuals specified in the two October 17, 2008 final 
disposition notices and the 13 individuals specified in October 31, 
2008 final disposition notice.
    In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315, each renewal 
exemption will be valid for 2 years unless revoked earlier by FMCSA. 
The exemption will be revoked 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. 31136 and 31315.

    Issued on: January 29, 2009
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy and Program Development.
[FR Doc. E9-2437 Filed 2-4-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P
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