Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Vision, 68202-68203 [2012-27693]

Download as PDF 68202 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 221 / Thursday, November 15, 2012 / Notices Issued on: November 8, 2012. Larry W. Minor, Associate Administrator for Policy. [FR Doc. 2012–27697 Filed 11–14–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration [Docket No. FMCSA–1998–3637, FMCSA– 2000–7006, FMCSA–2000–7165, FMCSA– 2000–7363, FMCSA–2004–17195, FMCSA– 2004–18885, FMCSA–2008–0106, FMCSA– 2008–0266, FMCSA–2008–0292, FMCSA– 2010–0161, FMCSA–2010–0187, FMCSA– 2010–0201] 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 32 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 December 8, 2012. Comments must be received on or before December 17, 2012. DATES: You may submit comments bearing the Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) numbers: Docket No. [FMCSA–1998–3637, FMCSA–2000– 7006, FMCSA–2000–7165, FMCSA– 2000–7363, FMCSA–2004–17195, FMCSA–2004–18885, FMCSA–2008– 0106, FMCSA–2008–0266, FMCSA– 2008–0292, FMCSA–2010–0161, FMCSA–2010–0187, FMCSA–2010– 0201], 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. TKELLEY on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES ADDRESSES: VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:22 Nov 14, 2012 Jkt 229001 • 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:// 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 receive intoany 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: Elaine M. Papp, Chief, Medical Programs Division, 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 PO 00000 Frm 00101 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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 32 individuals who have requested renewal of their exemptions in accordance with FMCSA procedures. FMCSA has evaluated these 32 applications for renewal on their merits and decided to extend each exemption for a renewable two-year period. They are: Henry W. Adams (AL) Timothy S. Ballard (NC) Larry W. Barnes (AR) Delbert R. Bays (KY) Larry D. Brown (MD) Donald O. Clopton (AL) Stephen R. Daugherty (IN) Ronald W. Garner (WA) Paul A. Gregerson (IA) Herman Hicks (GA) Nelson V. Jaramillo (MA) Larry D. Johnson (IL) James A. Jones (MD) Bruce T. Loughary (AR) Kenny Y. Louie (CA) Wayne R. Mantela (KY) Kenneth D. May (AL) Carl M. McIntire (OH) Duffy P. Metrejean, Jr. (LA) Gordon L. Nathan (CA) Bernice R. Parnell (NC) Michael J. Paul (LA) Stephen P. Preslopsky (FL) Kevin L. Quastad (IA) Melinda V. Salas (CA) Patrick W. Shea (MA) Ranjodh Singh (MA) Mark A. Thornton (WA) Roy F. Varnado, Jr. (LA) Michael J. Welle (MN) Eugene E. Wright (PA) Rick A. Young (IN). 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 requirements 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 E:\FR\FM\15NON1.SGM 15NON1 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 221 / Thursday, November 15, 2012 / Notices TKELLEY on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 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 32 applicants has satisfied the entry conditions for obtaining an exemption from the vision requirements (69–FR–62741, 71–FR– 62147, 63–FR–30285, 63–FR–54519, 65– FR–20245, 65–FR–33406, 65–FR–45817, 65–FR–57230, 65–FR–77066, 65–FR– 77069, 67–FR–57266, 67–FR–71610, 69– FR–17263, 69–FR–31447, 69–FR–52741, 69–FR–53493, 69–FR–62742, 69–FR– 64810, 71–FR–62148, 71–FR–66217, 73– FR–35194, 73–FR–48273, 73–FR–51689, 73–FR–60398, 73–FR–61922, 73–FR– 61925, 73–FR–63047, 73–FR–74565, 75– FR–39725, 75–FR–44050, 75–FR–47883, 75–FR–54958, 75–FR–59327, 75–FR– 61833, 75–FR–63255, 75–FR–70078, 75– FR–72868, 75–FR–77949). Each of these 32 applicants has requested renewal of the exemption and has submitted evidence showing that the vision in the better eye continues to meet the requirement 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 requirements. 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 VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:22 Nov 14, 2012 Jkt 229001 31315. However, FMCSA requests that interested parties with specific data concerning the safety records of these drivers submit comments by December 17, 2012. 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 32 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: November 5, 2012. Larry W. Minor, Associate Administrator for Policy. [FR Doc. 2012–27693 Filed 11–14–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Railroad Administration [Docket No. FRA–2012–0006–N–15] Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of Transportation. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and its implementing regulations, the SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00102 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 68203 Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) hereby announces that it is seeking renewal of the following currently approved information collection activities. Before submitting these information collection requirements for clearance by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), FRA is soliciting public comment on specific aspects of the activities identified below. DATES: Comments must be received no later than January 14, 2013. ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on any or all of the following proposed activities by mail to either: Mr. Robert Brogan, Office of Safety, Planning and Evaluation Division, RRS–21, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE., Mail Stop 25, Washington, DC 20590, or Ms. Kimberly Toone, Office of Information Technology, RAD–20, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE., Mail Stop 35, Washington, DC 20590. Commenters requesting FRA to acknowledge receipt of their respective comments must include a self-addressed stamped postcard stating, ‘‘Comments on OMB Control Number 2130–0525’’ and/or ‘‘Comments on OMB Control Number 2130–0529.’’ Alternatively, comments may be transmitted via facsimile to (202) 493–6216 or (202) 493–6170, or via email to Mr. Brogan at Robert.Brogan@dot.gov, or to Ms. Toone at Kimberly.Toone@dot.gov. Please refer to the assigned OMB control number in any correspondence submitted. FRA will summarize comments received in response to this notice in a subsequent notice and include them in its information collection submission to OMB for approval. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Robert Brogan, Office of Planning and Evaluation Division, RRS–21, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE., Mail Stop 25, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 493–6292) or Ms. Ms. Kimberly Toone, Office of Information Technology, RAD– 20, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE., Mail Stop 35, Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 493–6132). (These telephone numbers are not toll-free.) SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), Public Law 104–13, § 2, 109 Stat. 163 (1995) (codified as revised at 44 U.S.C. 3501–3520), and its implementing regulations, 5 CFR Part 1320, require Federal agencies to provide 60-day notice to the public for comment on information collection activities before seeking approval for reinstatement or renewal by OMB. 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A); 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1), E:\FR\FM\15NON1.SGM 15NON1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 221 (Thursday, November 15, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68202-68203]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-27693]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-1998-3637, FMCSA-2000-7006, FMCSA-2000-7165, FMCSA-
2000-7363, FMCSA-2004-17195, FMCSA-2004-18885, FMCSA-2008-0106, FMCSA-
2008-0266, FMCSA-2008-0292, FMCSA-2010-0161, FMCSA-2010-0187, FMCSA-
2010-0201]


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 
32 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 December 8, 2012. Comments must be 
received on or before December 17, 2012.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments bearing the Federal Docket 
Management System (FDMS) numbers: Docket No. [FMCSA-1998-3637, FMCSA-
2000-7006, FMCSA-2000-7165, FMCSA-2000-7363, FMCSA-2004-17195, FMCSA-
2004-18885, FMCSA-2008-0106, FMCSA-2008-0266, FMCSA-2008-0292, FMCSA-
2010-0161, FMCSA-2010-0187, FMCSA-2010-0201], 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://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 
receive intoany 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: Elaine M. Papp, Chief, Medical 
Programs Division, 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 32 individuals who have requested renewal of 
their exemptions in accordance with FMCSA procedures. FMCSA has 
evaluated these 32 applications for renewal on their merits and decided 
to extend each exemption for a renewable two-year period. They are:


Henry W. Adams (AL)
Timothy S. Ballard (NC)
Larry W. Barnes (AR)
Delbert R. Bays (KY)
Larry D. Brown (MD)
Donald O. Clopton (AL)
Stephen R. Daugherty (IN)
Ronald W. Garner (WA)
Paul A. Gregerson (IA)
Herman Hicks (GA)
Nelson V. Jaramillo (MA)
Larry D. Johnson (IL)
James A. Jones (MD)
Bruce T. Loughary (AR)
Kenny Y. Louie (CA)
Wayne R. Mantela (KY)
Kenneth D. May (AL)
Carl M. McIntire (OH)
Duffy P. Metrejean, Jr. (LA)
Gordon L. Nathan (CA)
Bernice R. Parnell (NC)
Michael J. Paul (LA)
Stephen P. Preslopsky (FL)
Kevin L. Quastad (IA)
Melinda V. Salas (CA)
Patrick W. Shea (MA)
Ranjodh Singh (MA)
Mark A. Thornton (WA)
Roy F. Varnado, Jr. (LA)
Michael J. Welle (MN)
Eugene E. Wright (PA)
Rick A. Young (IN).
    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 requirements 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

[[Page 68203]]

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 32 applicants has satisfied the 
entry conditions for obtaining an exemption from the vision 
requirements (69-FR-62741, 71-FR-62147, 63-FR-30285, 63-FR-54519, 65-
FR-20245, 65-FR-33406, 65-FR-45817, 65-FR-57230, 65-FR-77066, 65-FR-
77069, 67-FR-57266, 67-FR-71610, 69-FR-17263, 69-FR-31447, 69-FR-52741, 
69-FR-53493, 69-FR-62742, 69-FR-64810, 71-FR-62148, 71-FR-66217, 73-FR-
35194, 73-FR-48273, 73-FR-51689, 73-FR-60398, 73-FR-61922, 73-FR-61925, 
73-FR-63047, 73-FR-74565, 75-FR-39725, 75-FR-44050, 75-FR-47883, 75-FR-
54958, 75-FR-59327, 75-FR-61833, 75-FR-63255, 75-FR-70078, 75-FR-72868, 
75-FR-77949). Each of these 32 applicants has requested renewal of the 
exemption and has submitted evidence showing that the vision in the 
better eye continues to meet the requirement 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 requirements.
    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 December 17, 2012.
    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 32 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: November 5, 2012.
 Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2012-27693 Filed 11-14-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P
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