Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Vision, 23472-23474 [E9-11662]
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23472
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 95 / Tuesday, May 19, 2009 / Notices
Railroad Administration (FRA) has
received a request for a waiver of
compliance from 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.
Alaska Railroad Corporation
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[Waiver Petition Docket Number FRA–2008–
0161]
The Alaska Railroad Corporation
(ARR), a Class II railroad, petitioned
FRA for a waiver of compliance from
certain provisions of the Passenger
Equipment Safety Standards, as
prescribed by 49 CFR * 238.303(c)
Exterior Calendar day inspection and *
238.313 Class I brake test, for one set of
conventional passenger equipment.
Specifically, this waiver request applies
to the seasonal Hurricane Turn
passenger train. This service is operated
from May through September, between
Talkeetna, Alaska (Milepost (MP) 226),
and Hurricane Gulch Bridge, Alaska
(MP 284). This train provides ‘‘flag
stop’’ service to residents as well as
visitors to an area that has no road
access. Until now, this service was
provided using Buddy Company-built
Railway Diesel Cars (RDC) that have
been retired and replaced by two
locomotives, one baggage car, and two
passenger coach cars. The equipment
makes a single round trip between
Talkeetna and Hurricane, four days per
week, only during the summer months.
Until the retirement of RDC’s, this
service was covered under waiver
Docket Number FRA–2002–11215.
ARR maintains mechanical facilities
located at Fairbanks (MP 470) and
Anchorage (MP 114), Alaska, where
qualified maintenance employees are
headquartered. The equipment is stored
overnight at Talkeetna during the work
week, and may be moved to Anchorage
the other days for cleaning, supplies,
and servicing. FRA requires a ‘‘qualified
maintenance person’’ (QMP) conduct
the daily exterior inspection and the
Class I—initial terminal airbrake
inspection each day the equipment is
used. This requires ARR to assign a
QMP to Talkeetna, where there is not
enough work to support a position, or
have an employee travel 224 miles
(round trip) each day from Anchorage.
ARR requests that a QMP be
authorized to complete the required
daily exterior and airbrake inspections
at Talkeetna at least once each week,
during the months the equipment is
stationed there. The equipment may be
moved to Anchorage or a mechanical
department road truck will travel to
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16:48 May 18, 2009
Jkt 217001
Talkeetna to have a QMP conduct the
required inspections. Talkeetna is the
only location that this relief is sought.
Train crews will conduct the required
inspection on all other days. ARR has
safely operated the two RDC’s under the
conditions set by FRA’s Railroad Safety
Board in a decision letter dated June 11,
2002, under Docket Number FRA–2001–
11215. ARR requests that since the
original RDC equipment has been
retired, the replacement conventional
equipment be operated under the same
conditions of that waiver, and FRA–
2001–11215 be withdrawn due to the
retirement of the covered equipment.
Interested parties are invited to
participate in these proceedings by
submitting written views, data, or
comments. FRA does not anticipate
scheduling a public hearing in
connection with these proceedings since
the facts do not appear to warrant a
hearing. If any interested party desires
an opportunity for oral comment, they
should notify FRA, in writing, before
the end of the comment period and
specify the basis for their request.
All communications concerning these
proceedings should identify the
appropriate docket number (e.g., Waiver
Petition Docket Number FRA–2008–
0161) and may be submitted by any of
the following methods:
• Web site: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the online
instructions for submitting comments.
• Fax: 202–493–2251.
• Mail: Docket Operations Facility,
U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200
New Jersey Avenue, SE., W12–140,
Washington, DC 20590.
• Hand Delivery: 1200 New Jersey
Avenue, SE., Room W12–140,
Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m.
and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays.
Communications received within 45
days of the date of this notice will be
considered by FRA before final action is
taken. Comments received after that
date will be considered as far as
practicable. All written communications
concerning these proceedings are
available for examination during regular
business hours (9 a.m.–5 p.m.) at the
above facility. All documents in the
public docket are also available for
inspection and copying on the Internet
at the docket facility’s Web site at
https://www.regulations.gov.
Anyone is able to search the
electronic form of any written
communications and 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
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review DOT’s complete Privacy Act
Statement in the Federal Register
published on April 11, 2000 (Volume
65, Number 70; Pages 19477–78).
Issued in Washington, DC on May 13,
2009.
Grady C. Cothen, Jr.,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety
Standards and Program Development.
[FR Doc. E9–11593 Filed 5–18–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–06–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration
[Docket No. FMCSA–2000–8398; FMCSA–
2003–14504; FMCSA–2005–20560; FMCSA–
2007–27515]
Qualification of Drivers; Exemption
Applications; Vision
AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration (FMCSA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of renewal of
exemptions; request for comments.
SUMMARY: FMCSA announces its
decision to renew the exemptions from
the vision requirement in the Federal
Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 21
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
exemption renewals will provide a level
of safety that is 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
13, 2009. Comments must be received
on or before June 18, 2009.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
bearing the Federal Docket Management
System (FDMS) Docket ID FMCSA–
2000–8398; FMCSA–2003–14504;
FMCSA–2005–20560; FMCSA–2007–
27515, using any of the following
methods.
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
on-line instructions for submitting
comments.
• Mail: Docket Management Facility;
U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200
New Jersey Avenue, SE., West Building
Ground Floor, Room W12–140,
Washington, DC 20590–0001.
• Hand Delivery or Courier: West
Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140,
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.,
Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5
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Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 95 / Tuesday, May 19, 2009 / Notices
p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays.
• Fax: 1–202–493–2251.
Each submission must include the
Agency name and the docket number for
this Notice. Note that DOT posts all
comments received without change to
https://www.regulations.gov, including
any personal information included in a
comment. Please see the Privacy Act
heading below.
Docket: For access to the docket to
read background documents or
comments, go to https://
www.regulations.gov at any time or
Room W12–140 on the ground level of
the West Building, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue, SE., Washington, DC, between
9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through
Friday, except Federal holidays. The
FDMS is available 24 hours each day,
365 days each year. If you want
acknowledgment that we received your
comments, please include a selfaddressed, stamped envelope or
postcard or print the acknowledgment
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 19476). This information is also
available at https://DocketInfo.dot.gov.
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:
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Background
Under 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315,
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.
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16:48 May 18, 2009
Jkt 217001
Exemption Decision
This notice addresses 21 individuals
who have requested a renewal of their
exemption in accordance with FMCSA
procedures. FMCSA has evaluated these
21 applications for renewal on their
merits and decided to extend each
exemption for a renewable two-year
period. They are:
Roosevelt Bell, Jr.
Joseph M. Blankenship
David K. Boswell
Melvin M. Carter
Bernabe V. Cerda
Michael S. Crawford
Rex A. Dyer
Patrick J. Goebel
Thomas A. Gotto
Louis W. Henderson, Jr.
William P. Holloman
Wilbur J. Johnson
Joseph W. Mayes
Larry L. Morseman
Kenneth C. Reeves
Charles J. Rowsey
Dustin N. Sullivan
Thomas E. Summers, Sr.
Jon C. Thompson
Daniel E. Watkins
Tommy N. Whitworth
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. 31136(e) and
31315.
Basis for Renewing Exemptions
Under 49 U.S.C. 31315(b)(1), an
exemption may be granted for no longer
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23473
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. 31136(e) and
31315, each of the 21 applicants has
satisfied the entry conditions for
obtaining an exemption from the vision
requirements (65 FR 78256; 66 FR
16311; 68 FR 13360; 70 FR 12265; 72 FR
11426; 68 FR 19598; 68 FR 33570; 70 FR
25878; 72 FR 28093; 70 FR 17504; 70 FR
30997; 72 FR 27624; 72 FR 21313; 72 FR
32703). Each of these 21 applicants has
requested 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. 31136(e) and
31315. However, FMCSA requests that
interested parties with specific data
concerning the safety records of these
drivers submit comments by June 18,
2009.
FMCSA believes that the
requirements for a renewal of an
exemption under 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and
31315 can be satisfied by initially
granting the renewal and then
requesting and evaluating, if needed,
subsequent comments submitted by
interested parties. As indicated above,
the Agency previously published
notices of final disposition announcing
its decision to exempt these 21
individuals from the vision requirement
in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10). The final
decision to grant an 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.
The 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
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19MYN1
23474
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 95 / Tuesday, May 19, 2009 / Notices
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 adverse
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. 31136(e) and 31315, FMCSA will
take immediate steps to revoke the
exemption of a driver.
Issued on: May 11, 2009.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy and
Program Development.
[FR Doc. E9–11662 Filed 5–18–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Open Meeting of the President’s
Economic Recovery Advisory Board
(the PERAB)
AGENCY: Office of the Under Secretary
for Domestic Finance, Treasury.
ACTION: Notice of meeting time change.
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
SUMMARY: The President’s Economic
Recovery Advisory Board will convene
its first meeting on May 20, 2009, in the
White House, 1600 Pennsylvania
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC,
beginning at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time
instead of 1 p.m. Eastern Time as
originally announced in the May 5, 2009
Notice of Open Meeting. The meeting
will be open to the public via live
webcast at https://www.whitehouse.gov.
DATES: The meeting will be held on May
20, 2009 at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time.
ADDRESSES: The PERAB will convene its
first meeting in the White House, 1600
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.,
Washington, DC. The public is invited
to submit written statements to the
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16:48 May 18, 2009
Jkt 217001
Advisory Committee by any of the
following methods:
Electronic Statements
• Send written statements to the
PERAB’s electronic mailbox at
PERAB@do.treas.gov; or
Paper Statements
• Send paper statements in triplicate
to Michelle Greene, Designated Federal
Officer, President’s Economic Recovery
Advisory Board, Office of the Under
Secretary for Domestic Finance, Room
2326, Department of the Treasury, 1500
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.,
Washington, DC 20220.
In general, all statements will be posted
on the White House Web site (https://
www.whitehouse.gov) without change,
including any business or personal
information provided, such as names,
addresses, e-mail addresses, or
telephone numbers. The Department
will also make such statements available
for public inspection and copying in the
Department’s Library, Room 1428, Main
Department Building, 1500
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.,
Washington, DC 20220, on official
business days between the hours of 10
a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern Time. You can
make an appointment to inspect
statements by telephoning (202) 622–
0990. All statements, including
attachments and other supporting
materials received, are part of the public
record and subject to public disclosure.
You should submit only information
that you wish to make available
publicly.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Michelle Greene, Designated Federal
Officer, President’s Economic Recovery
Advisory Board, Office of the Under
Secretary for Domestic Finance,
Department of the Treasury, Main
Department Building, 1500
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.,
Washington, DC 20220, at (202) 622–
2610.
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On May 5,
2009, the Department published a
Federal Register Notice announcing that
the first open meeting of the PERAB
would be held on May 20, 2009 at 1
p.m. Eastern Time. Due to exceptional
circumstances resulting from the
President seeking to attend and address
the PERAB, the time of the meeting has
been changed to accommodate the
President’s schedule. The meeting will
now be held at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time.
In accordance with Section 10(a) of the
Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5
U.S.C. App. II, § 10(a), and the
regulations thereunder, Michelle
Greene, Designated Federal Officer of
the Advisory Board, has ordered
publication of this notice that the
PERAB will convene its first meeting on
May 20, 2009, in the White House, 1600
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.,
Washington, DC, beginning at 9:30 a.m.
Eastern Time. The meeting will be open
to the public. While the meeting room
will accommodate a reasonable number
of interested members of the public,
space is limited. Because the meeting
will be held in a secured facility,
members of the public who plan to
attend the meeting must contact the
Office of the Under Secretary for
Domestic Finance, at (202) 622–2610, to
inform the Department of the desire to
attend the meeting and to provide the
information that will be required to
facilitate entry into the White House. In
addition, the meeting can be viewed via
live webcast at https://
www.whitehouse.gov. The purpose of
this meeting is to discuss general
organizational matters of the PERAB
and begin discussing the issues
impacting the strength and
competitiveness of the Nation’s
economy.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Andrew Mayock,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. E9–11765 Filed 5–18–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810–25–P
E:\FR\FM\19MYN1.SGM
19MYN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 95 (Tuesday, May 19, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23472-23474]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-11662]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
[Docket No. FMCSA-2000-8398; FMCSA-2003-14504; FMCSA-2005-20560; FMCSA-
2007-27515]
Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Vision
AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of renewal of exemptions; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: FMCSA announces its decision to renew the exemptions from the
vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for
21 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
exemption renewals will provide a level of safety that is 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 13, 2009. Comments must be
received on or before June 18, 2009.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments bearing the Federal Docket
Management System (FDMS) Docket ID FMCSA-2000-8398; FMCSA-2003-14504;
FMCSA-2005-20560; FMCSA-2007-27515, using any of the following methods.
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line instructions for submitting
comments.
Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., West Building Ground
Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
Hand Delivery or Courier: West Building Ground Floor, Room
W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m.
and 5
[[Page 23473]]
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
Each submission must include the Agency name and the docket number
for this Notice. Note that DOT posts all comments received without
change to https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal
information included in a comment. Please see the Privacy Act heading
below.
Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or
comments, go to https://www.regulations.gov at any time or Room W12-140
on the ground level of the West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.,
Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays. The FDMS 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 acknowledgment 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 19476). This information is
also available at https://DocketInfo.dot.gov.
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
Under 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315, 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.
Exemption Decision
This notice addresses 21 individuals who have requested a renewal
of their exemption in accordance with FMCSA procedures. FMCSA has
evaluated these 21 applications for renewal on their merits and decided
to extend each exemption for a renewable two-year period. They are:
Roosevelt Bell, Jr.
Joseph M. Blankenship
David K. Boswell
Melvin M. Carter
Bernabe V. Cerda
Michael S. Crawford
Rex A. Dyer
Patrick J. Goebel
Thomas A. Gotto
Louis W. Henderson, Jr.
William P. Holloman
Wilbur J. Johnson
Joseph W. Mayes
Larry L. Morseman
Kenneth C. Reeves
Charles J. Rowsey
Dustin N. Sullivan
Thomas E. Summers, Sr.
Jon C. Thompson
Daniel E. Watkins
Tommy N. Whitworth
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. 31136(e) and
31315.
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. 31136(e) and 31315, each of the 21 applicants has satisfied the
entry conditions for obtaining an exemption from the vision
requirements (65 FR 78256; 66 FR 16311; 68 FR 13360; 70 FR 12265; 72 FR
11426; 68 FR 19598; 68 FR 33570; 70 FR 25878; 72 FR 28093; 70 FR 17504;
70 FR 30997; 72 FR 27624; 72 FR 21313; 72 FR 32703). Each of these 21
applicants has requested 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. 31136(e)
and 31315. However, FMCSA requests that interested parties with
specific data concerning the safety records of these drivers submit
comments by June 18, 2009.
FMCSA believes that the requirements for a renewal of an exemption
under 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315 can be satisfied by initially
granting the renewal and then requesting and evaluating, if needed,
subsequent comments submitted by interested parties. As indicated
above, the Agency previously published notices of final disposition
announcing its decision to exempt these 21 individuals from the vision
requirement in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10). The final decision to grant an
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. The 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
[[Page 23474]]
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 adverse 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.
31136(e) and 31315, FMCSA will take immediate steps to revoke the
exemption of a driver.
Issued on: May 11, 2009.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy and Program Development.
[FR Doc. E9-11662 Filed 5-18-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P