Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Vision, 80887-80888 [2010-32241]

Download as PDF mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 246 / Thursday, December 23, 2010 / Notices develop communications plans that allows for the periodic tracking of the shipments. A record of the communications that includes the time of the call and location of the shipment may be kept by either the driver (e.g., recorded in the log book) or the company. These records must be kept, either physically or electronically, for at least six months at the company’s principal place of business or readily available to the employees at the company’s principal place of business. This ICR is being revised due to an increase in the estimated number of annual trips in which permitted Hazardous Materials (HM) is transported resulting in a change to the total information collection burden for maintaining a daily communication record. On September 9, 2010, FMCSA published a Federal Register notice allowing for a 60-day comment period on the ICR. No comment was received. DATES: Please send your comments by January 24, 2011. OMB must receive your comments by this date in order to act quickly on the ICR. ADDRESSES: All comments should reference Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) Docket Number FMCSA–2010–0382. Interested persons are invited to submit written comments on the proposed information collection to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget. Comments should be addressed to the attention of the Desk Officer, Department of Transportation/Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and sent via electronic mail to oira_submission@omb.eop.gov, or faxed to (202) 395–6974, or mailed to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Docket Library, Room 10102, 725 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Paul Bomgardner, Hazardous Materials Division, Department of Transportation, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, West Building 6th Floor, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590. Telephone: 202–493–0027; e-mail paul.bomgardner@dot.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Hazardous Materials Safety Permits. OMB Control Number: 2126–0030. Type of Request: Revision of a currently-approved information collection. Respondents: Motor carriers subject to the Hazardous Materials Safety Permit VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:06 Dec 22, 2010 Jkt 223001 requirements in 49 CFR part 385, subpart E. Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,425. Estimated Number of Responses: 1,425 annually. Estimated Time per Response: 5 minutes. The communication between motor carriers and their drivers must take place at least two times per day and it is estimated that it will take 5 minutes to maintain a daily communication record for each driver. Expiration Date: February 28, 2011. Frequency of Response: On occasion. Estimated Total Annual Burden: 350,000 hours [4.2 million trips × 5 minutes/60 minutes per record = 350,000]. Background: The Secretary of Transportation (Secretary) is responsible for implementing regulations to issue safety permits for transporting certain HM in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 5101 et seq. The HM Safety Permit regulations (49 CFR part 385) require carriers to complete a ‘‘Combined Motor Carrier Identification Report and HM Permit Application’’ (Form MCS–150B). The HM Safety Permit regulations also require carriers to have a security program. As part of the HM Safety Permit regulations, carriers are required to develop and maintain route plans so that law enforcement officials can verify the correct location of the HM shipment. The FMCSA requires companies holding permits to develop a communications plan that allows for the periodic tracking of the shipment. This information covers the record of communications that includes the time of the call and location of the shipment. The records may be kept by either the driver (e.g., recorded in the log book) or the company. These records must be kept, either physically or electronically, for at least six months at the company’s principal place of business or be readily available to employees at the company’s principal place of business. Public Comments Invited: You are asked to comment on any aspect of this information collection, including: (1) Whether the proposed collection is necessary for the performance of FMCSA’s functions; (2) the accuracy of the estimated burden; (3) ways for FMCSA to enhance the quality, usefulness, and clarity of the collected information; and (4) ways that the burden could be minimized without reducing the quality of the collected information. The Agency will summarize or include your comments in the request for OMB’s clearance of this information collection. PO 00000 Frm 00102 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 80887 Issued on: December 5, 2010. Kelly Leone, Associate Administrator for Research and Information Technology. [FR Doc. 2010–32239 Filed 12–22–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration [Docket No. FMCSA–2004–19477; FMCSA– 2002–12844] Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Vision Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of renewal of exemptions; request for comments. AGENCY: FMCSA announces its decision to renew the exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 9 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. SUMMARY: This decision is effective January 17, 2011. Comments must be received on or before January 24, 2011. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments bearing the Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) FMCSA–2004–19477; FMCSA–2002–12844, 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 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. • Fax: 1–202–493–2251. Instructions: 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:// DATES: E:\FR\FM\23DEN1.SGM 23DEN1 80888 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 246 / Thursday, December 23, 2010 / Notices mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES 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 Federal Docket Management System (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 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 DOT’s Privacy Act Statement for the FDMS published in the Federal Register on January 17, 2008 (73 FR 3316), or you may visit https://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/ E8-785.pdf. 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: exemption for a renewable two-year period. They are: Howard F. Breitkreutz, John E. Evenson, Steven C. Humke, Craig M. Landry, Joe L. Meredith, Jr., Richard E. Nordhausen, Jr., Andrew H. Rusk, Kenneth E. Vigue, Jr., Richard A. Winslow. The exemptions are extended subject to the following conditions: (1) That each individual has 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 provides 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 retains 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 Background for additional two year periods. In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and Under 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315, 31315, each of the 9 applicants has FMCSA may renew an exemption from satisfied the entry conditions for the vision requirements in 49 CFR obtaining an exemption from the vision 391.41(b)(10), which applies to drivers requirements (67 FR 68719; 68 FR of CMVs in interstate commerce, for a 10301; 68 FR 2629; 69 FR 64806; 69 FR two-year period if it finds ‘‘such 71100; 70 FR 2705; 72 FR 1053; 72 FR exemption would likely achieve a level 1056; 73 FR 76440). Each of these 9 of safety that is equivalent to, or greater applicants has requested renewal of the than, the level that would be achieved absent such exemption.’’ The procedures exemption and has submitted evidence showing that the vision in the better eye for requesting an exemption (including renewals) are set out in 49 CFR part 381. continues to meet the standard specified at 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10) and that the Exemption Decision vision impairment is stable. In addition, a review of each record of safety while This notice addresses 9 individuals driving with the respective vision who have requested renewal of their exemptions in accordance with FMCSA deficiencies over the past two years procedures. FMCSA has evaluated these indicates each applicant continues to meet the vision exemption standards. 9 applications for renewal on their These factors provide an adequate basis merits and decided to extend each VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:06 Dec 22, 2010 Jkt 223001 PO 00000 Frm 00103 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 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 January 24, 2011. 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 9 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 made on the merits of each case and made 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 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: December 16, 2010. Larry W. Minor, Associate Administrator, Office of Policy. [FR Doc. 2010–32241 Filed 12–22–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P E:\FR\FM\23DEN1.SGM 23DEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 246 (Thursday, December 23, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 80887-80888]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-32241]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2004-19477; FMCSA-2002-12844]


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 
9 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 January 17, 2011. Comments must be 
received on or before January 24, 2011.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments bearing the Federal Docket 
Management System (FDMS) FMCSA-2004-19477; FMCSA-2002-12844, 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 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
     Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
    Instructions: 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://

[[Page 80888]]

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 Federal Docket Management System (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 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 DOT's Privacy Act Statement for the FDMS published in 
the Federal Register on January 17, 2008 (73 FR 3316), or you may visit 
https://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-785.pdf.

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 9 individuals who have requested renewal of 
their exemptions in accordance with FMCSA procedures. FMCSA has 
evaluated these 9 applications for renewal on their merits and decided 
to extend each exemption for a renewable two-year period. They are:
    Howard F. Breitkreutz, John E. Evenson, Steven C. Humke, Craig M. 
Landry, Joe L. Meredith, Jr., Richard E. Nordhausen, Jr., Andrew H. 
Rusk, Kenneth E. Vigue, Jr., Richard A. Winslow.
    The exemptions are extended subject to the following conditions: 
(1) That each individual has 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 
provides 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 
retains 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 9 applicants has satisfied the 
entry conditions for obtaining an exemption from the vision 
requirements (67 FR 68719; 68 FR 10301; 68 FR 2629; 69 FR 64806; 69 FR 
71100; 70 FR 2705; 72 FR 1053; 72 FR 1056; 73 FR 76440). Each of these 
9 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 January 24, 2011.
    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 9 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 made on the merits of each 
case and made 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 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: December 16, 2010.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator, Office of Policy.
[FR Doc. 2010-32241 Filed 12-22-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P
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