Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Diabetes Mellitus, 7855-7857 [2013-02267]
Download as PDF
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 23 / Monday, February 4, 2013 / Notices
safely. Mr. Shierk meets the vision
requirements of 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10).
His optometrist examined him in 2012
and certified that he does not have
diabetic retinopathy. He holds a Class A
CDL from Oregon.
Kailey J. Skroko
Ms. Skroko, 26, has had ITDM since
1999. Her endocrinologist examined her
in 2012 and certified that she has had
no severe hypoglycemic reactions
resulting in loss of consciousness,
requiring the assistance of another
person, or resulting in impaired
cognitive function that occurred without
warning in the past 12 months and no
recurrent (2 or more) severe
hypoglycemic episodes in the last 5
years. Her endocrinologist certifies that
Ms. Skroko understands diabetes
management and monitoring, has stable
control of her diabetes using insulin,
and is able to drive a CMV safely. Ms.
Skroko meets the requirements of the
vision standard at 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10).
Her optometrist examined her in 2012
and certified that she does not have
diabetic retinopathy. She holds an
operator’s license from Indiana.
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Samantha K. Tsuchiya
Ms. Tsuchiya, 27, has had ITDM since
1996. Her endocrinologist examined her
in 2012 and certified that she has had
no severe hypoglycemic reactions
resulting in loss of consciousness,
requiring the assistance of another
person, or resulting in impaired
cognitive function that occurred without
warning in the past 12 months and no
recurrent (2 or more) severe
hypoglycemic episodes in the last 5
years. Her endocrinologist certifies that
Ms. Tsuchiya understands diabetes
management and monitoring, has stable
control of her diabetes using insulin,
and is able to drive a CMV safely. Ms.
Tsuchiya meets the requirements of the
vision standard at 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10).
Her optometrist examined her in 2012
and certified that she does not have
diabetic retinopathy. She holds a Class
C operator’s license from California.
David W. West
Mr. West, 54, has had ITDM since
2010. His endocrinologist examined him
in 2012 and certified that he has had no
severe hypoglycemic reactions resulting
in loss of consciousness, requiring the
assistance of another person, or
resulting in impaired cognitive function
that occurred without warning in the
past 12 months and no recurrent (2 or
more) severe hypoglycemic episodes in
the last 5 years. His endocrinologist
certifies that Mr. West understands
diabetes management and monitoring,
VerDate Mar<15>2010
19:26 Feb 01, 2013
Jkt 229001
has stable control of his diabetes using
insulin, and is able to drive a CMV
safely. Mr. West meets the requirements
of the vision standard at 49 CFR
391.41(b)(10). His optometrist examined
him in 2012 and certified that he does
not have diabetic retinopathy. He holds
a Class E operator’s license from
Missouri.
Eugene R. Zollner, II
Mr. Zollner, 51, has had ITDM since
2012. His endocrinologist examined him
in 2012 and certified that he has had no
severe hypoglycemic reactions resulting
in loss of consciousness, requiring the
assistance of another person, or
resulting in impaired cognitive function
that occurred without warning in the
past 12 months and no recurrent (2 or
more) severe hypoglycemic episodes in
the last 5 years. His endocrinologist
certifies that Mr. Zollner understands
diabetes management and monitoring,
has stable control of his diabetes using
insulin, and is able to drive a CMV
safely. Mr. Zollner meets the vision
requirements of 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10).
His optometrist examined him in 2012
and certified that he does not have
diabetic retinopathy. He holds a Class A
CDL from Ohio.
Request for Comments
In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e)
and 31315, FMCSA requests public
comment from all interested persons on
the exemption petitions described in
this notice. We will consider all
comments received before the close of
business on the closing date indicated
in the date section of the notice.
FMCSA notes that section 4129 of the
Safe, Accountable, Flexible and
Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A
Legacy for Users requires the Secretary
to revise its diabetes exemption program
established on September 3, 2003 (68 FR
52441).1 The revision must provide for
individual assessment of drivers with
diabetes mellitus, and be consistent
with the criteria described in section
4018 of the Transportation Equity Act
for the 21st Century (49 U.S.C. 31305).
Section 4129 requires: (1) Elimination
of the requirement for 3 years of
experience operating CMVs while being
treated with insulin; and (2)
establishment of a specified minimum
period of insulin use to demonstrate
stable control of diabetes before being
allowed to operate a CMV.
In response to section 4129, FMCSA
made immediate revisions to the
1 Section 4129(a) refers to the 2003 notice as a
‘‘final rule.’’ However, the 2003 notice did not issue
a ‘‘final rule’’ but did establish the procedures and
standards for issuing exemptions for drivers with
ITDM.
PO 00000
Frm 00118
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
7855
diabetes exemption program established
by the September 3, 2003 notice.
FMCSA discontinued use of the 3-year
driving experience and fulfilled the
requirements of section 4129 while
continuing to ensure that operation of
CMVs by drivers with ITDM will
achieve the requisite level of safety
required of all exemptions granted
under 49 USC. 31136 (e).
Section 4129(d) also directed FMCSA
to ensure that drivers of CMVs with
ITDM are not held to a higher standard
than other drivers, with the exception of
limited operating, monitoring and
medical requirements that are deemed
medically necessary.
The FMCSA concluded that all of the
operating, monitoring and medical
requirements set out in the September 3,
2003 notice, except as modified, were in
compliance with section 4129(d).
Therefore, all of the requirements set
out in the September 3, 2003 notice,
except as modified by the notice in the
Federal Register on November 8, 2005
(70 FR 67777), remain in effect.
Issued on: January 18, 2013.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2013–02268 Filed 2–1–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration
[FMCSA Docket No. FMCSA–2012–0349]
Qualification of Drivers; Exemption
Applications; Diabetes Mellitus
Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration (FMCSA), DOT
ACTION: Notice of final disposition.
AGENCY:
FMCSA announces its
decision to exempt 12 individuals from
its rule prohibiting persons with
insulin-treated diabetes mellitus (ITDM)
from operating commercial motor
vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce.
The exemptions will enable these
individuals to operate CMVs in
interstate commerce.
DATES: The exemptions are effective
February 4, 2013. The exemptions
expire on February 4, 2015.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Elaine M. Papp, Chief, Medical
Programs Division, (202) 366–4001,
fmcsamedical@dot.gov, FMCSA, Room
W64–224, Department of
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590–
0001. Office hours are from 8:30 a.m. to
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\04FEN1.SGM
04FEN1
7856
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 23 / Monday, February 4, 2013 / Notices
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.
Docket: For access to the docket to
read background documents or
comments, go to https://
www.regulations.gov and/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.
Privacy Act: Anyone may search the
electronic form of all comments
received into any of DOT’s 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, or
other entity). You may review DOT’s
Privacy Act Statement for the Federal
Docket Management System (FDMS)
published in the Federal Register on
December 29, 2010 (75 FR 82132), or
you may visit https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/
pkg/FR–2010–12–29/pdf/2010–
32876.pdf.
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Background
On December 13, 2012, FMCSA
published a notice of receipt of Federal
diabetes exemption applications from
12 individuals and requested comments
from the public (77 FR 74271). The
public comment period closed on
January 14, 2013, and no comments
were received.
FMCSA has evaluated the eligibility
of the 12 applicants and determined that
granting the exemptions to these
individuals would achieve a level of
safety equivalent to or greater than the
level that would be achieved by
complying with the current regulation
49 CFR 391.41(b)(3).
Diabetes Mellitus and Driving
Experience of the Applicants
The Agency established the current
requirement for diabetes in 1970
because several risk studies indicated
that drivers with diabetes had a higher
rate of crash involvement than the
general population. The diabetes rule
provides that ‘‘A person is physically
qualified to drive a commercial motor
vehicle if that person has no established
medical history or clinical diagnosis of
diabetes mellitus currently requiring
insulin for control’’ (49 CFR
391.41(b)(3)).
FMCSA established its diabetes
exemption program, based on the
VerDate Mar<15>2010
19:26 Feb 01, 2013
Jkt 229001
Agency’s July 2000 study entitled ‘‘A
Report to Congress on the Feasibility of
a Program to Qualify Individuals with
Insulin-Treated Diabetes Mellitus to
Operate in Interstate Commerce as
Directed by the Transportation Act for
the 21st Century.’’ The report concluded
that a safe and practicable protocol to
allow some drivers with ITDM to
operate CMVs is feasible. The
September 3, 2003 (68 FR 52441),
Federal Register notice in conjunction
with the November 8, 2005 (70 FR
67777), Federal Register notice provides
the current protocol for allowing such
drivers to operate CMVs in interstate
commerce.
These 12 applicants have had ITDM
over a range of 1 to 50 years. These
applicants report no severe
hypoglycemic reactions resulting in loss
of consciousness or seizure, requiring
the assistance of another person, or
resulting in impaired cognitive function
that occurred without warning
symptoms, in the past 12 months and no
recurrent (2 or more) severe
hypoglycemic episodes in the past 5
years. In each case, an endocrinologist
verified that the driver has
demonstrated a willingness to properly
monitor and manage his/her diabetes
mellitus, received education related to
diabetes management, and is on a stable
insulin regimen. These drivers report no
other disqualifying conditions,
including diabetes-related
complications. Each meets the vision
requirement at 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10).
The qualifications and medical
condition of each applicant were stated
and discussed in detail in the December
13, 2012, Federal Register notice and
they will not be repeated in this notice.
Discussion of Comments
FMCSA received no comments in this
proceeding.
Basis for Exemption Determination
Under 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315,
FMCSA may grant an exemption from
the diabetes requirement in 49 CFR
391.41(b)(3) if the exemption is likely to
achieve an equivalent or greater level of
safety than would be achieved without
the exemption. The exemption allows
the applicants to operate CMVs in
interstate commerce.
To evaluate the effect of these
exemptions on safety, FMCSA
considered medical reports about the
applicants’ ITDM and vision, and
reviewed the treating endocrinologists’
medical opinion related to the ability of
the driver to safely operate a CMV while
using insulin.
Consequently, FMCSA finds that in
each case exempting these applicants
PO 00000
Frm 00119
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
from the diabetes requirement in 49 CFR
391.41(b)(3) is likely to achieve a level
of safety equal to that existing without
the exemption.
Conditions and Requirements
The terms and conditions of the
exemption will be provided to the
applicants in the exemption document
and they include the following: (1) That
each individual submit a quarterly
monitoring checklist completed by the
treating endocrinologist as well as an
annual checklist with a comprehensive
medical evaluation; (2) that each
individual reports within 2 business
days of occurrence, all episodes of
severe hypoglycemia, significant
complications, or inability to manage
diabetes; also, any involvement in an
accident or any other adverse event in
a CMV or personal vehicle, whether or
not it is related to an episode of
hypoglycemia; (3) 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 (4) that each
individual provide a copy of the annual
medical certification to the employer for
retention in the driver’s qualification
file, or keep a copy in his/her driver’s
qualification file if he/she is selfemployed. The driver must also have a
copy of the certification when driving,
for presentation to a duly authorized
Federal, State, or local enforcement
official.
Conclusion
Based upon its evaluation of the 12
exemption applications, FMCSA
exempts Dennis W. Baseman (MN),
Kathy L. Brown (IN), Charles K. Eudy
(TX), John C. Evans (IL), Thomas J. Ferry
(NJ), Jeffrey C. Hanson (TX), Jeffrey D.
Kivett (IN), Bryan M. Laffin (MD), Peter
W. Prime (MA), David E. Wagner (PA),
Daniel V. Williamson (MN), and Charles
F. Woodford (WI) from the ITDM
requirement in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(3),
subject to the conditions listed under
‘‘Conditions and Requirements’’ above.
In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e)
and 31315 each exemption will be valid
for two years unless revoked earlier by
FMCSA. The exemption will be revoked
if the following occurs: (1) The person
fails to comply with the terms and
conditions of the 1/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. If the exemption is
still effective at the end of the 2-year
period, the person may apply to FMCSA
E:\FR\FM\04FEN1.SGM
04FEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 23 / Monday, February 4, 2013 / Notices
for a renewal under procedures in effect
at that time.
Issued on: January 18, 2013.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2013–02267 Filed 2–1–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[Docket No. FRA 2013–0002–N–3]
Each locomotive, passenger car and
caboose that is fully equipped with glazing
materials that meets the requirements of this
part shall be stenciled on an interior wall as
follows:
‘‘Fully Equipped FRA Part 223 glazing’’ or
similar words conveying that meaning in
letters at least 3⁄8 inch high.
Proposed Agency Information
Collection Activities; Comment
Request
Federal Railroad
Administration (FRA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice and request for
comments.
AGENCY:
In compliance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice announces that the Information
Collection Requirements (ICRs)
abstracted below have been forwarded
to the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) for review and comment. The
ICRs describes the nature of the
information collection and their
expected burden. The Federal Register
notice with a 60-day comment period
soliciting comments on the following
collection of information was published
on November 15, 2012.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on
or before March 6, 2013.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
Robert Brogan, Office of Safety,
Planning and Evaluation Division, RRS–
21, Federal Railroad Administration,
1200 New Jersey Ave. SE., Mail Stop 17,
Washington, DC 20590 (telephone: (202)
493–6292), or 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, Section 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 issue
two notices seeking public comment on
information collection activities before
OMB may approve paperwork packages.
44 U.S.C. 3506, 3507; 5 CFR 1320.5,
1320.8(d)(1), 1320.12. On November 15,
2012, FRA published a 60-day notice in
the Federal Register soliciting comment
on ICRs for which the agency was
seeking OMB approval. 77 FR 68203.
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
19:26 Feb 01, 2013
Jkt 229001
FRA received one comment in response
to this notice.
On January 9, 2013, the Association of
American Railroads (AAR) submitted a
comment on behalf of itself and its
member railroads. AAR stated its
opposition to the proposed renewal of
OMB’s approval of FRA’s requirement
that rolling stock with glazing materials
be stenciled and noted that 49 CFR
223.17 and 49 CFR 223, Appendix A, set
forth FRA’s glazing requirements.
Section 223.17 requires the stenciling of
the walls of rolling stock as follows:
Appendix A requires more detailed
information than section 223.17. It
provides the following:
c. Material Identification
(1) Each individual unit of glazing material
shall be permanently marked, prior to
installation, to indicate that this type of
material has been successfully tested as set
forth in this appendix and that marking shall
be done in such a manner that it is clearly
visible after the material has been installed.
(2) Each individual unit of a glazing
material that has successfully passed the
Type I testing regimen shall be marked to
indicate:
(i) ‘‘FRA Type I’’ material;
(ii) the manufacturer of the material;
(iii) the type or brand identification of the
material.
(3) Each individual unit of a glazing
material that has successfully passed the
Type II testing regimen shall be marked to
indicate:
(i) ‘‘FRA Type II’’ material;
(ii) the manufacturer of the material;
(iii) the type or brand identification of the
material.
AAR believes that, ‘‘with glazing
materials required to have detailed
information set forth in Appendix A,
there is no reason to require the
information on the walls of rolling stock
required by section 223.17. Section
223.17 is simply superfluous.’’ In its
letter, AAR pointed out that it filed a
petition with FRA in 2004 to eliminate
the stenciling requirement under 49
CFR 223.17 and remarked:
With more than eight years having elapsed
since AAR filed its petition, it is past the
point in time when FRA should have acted
to eliminate the requirement to stencil rolling
stock. OMB should deny the request to
approve this useless information collection
requirement.
FRA fully acknowledges the issue that
AAR raises in its January 9th letter and
in its earlier petition to FRA. For some
PO 00000
Frm 00120
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
7857
time, FRA has planned to address this
issue through an agency rulemaking.
However, FRA cannot always proceed
with a rulemaking as quickly as it or the
regulated community would like, even
when the agency knows that a current
rule needs to be revised. The AAR well
knows that the rulemaking process is
neither a fast nor a simple process.
Myriad points of view must be
considered before the agency changes an
existing rule. To achieve its mission to
promote and enforce all areas of rail
safety, FRA must prioritize its
rulemaking agenda to address those
areas that will most greatly and directly
impact rail safety. In that regard, the
current state of rail safety throughout
the nation is a prime consideration. Rail
accidents and incidents that occur at
any given time and result in numerous
injuries, fatalities, significant property
damage, or harm to nearby communities
will demand urgent agency action. Items
on the agency regulatory agenda then
will be moved up or down depending
on current rail events. Having said all
the above, FRA plans on revising its
Safety Glazing Standards Rule (49 CFR
Part 223) later this year. FRA will
carefully review section 223.17 and
other requirements in this rule that are
deemed unnecessary or superfluous
with the object of eliminating them.
FRA asks AAR’s patience and asks OMB
to approve this latest renewal
information collection submission with
its current requirements for the
maximum time period while FRA works
on completing its intended rulemaking
action.
Before OMB decides whether to
approve a proposed collection of
information, it must provide 30 days for
public comment. 44 U.S.C. 3507(b); 5
CFR 1320.12(d). Federal law requires
OMB to approve or disapprove
paperwork packages between 30 and 60
days after the 30 day notice is
published. 44 U.S.C. 3507(b)–(c); 5 CFR
1320.12(d); see also 60 FR 44978, 44983,
Aug. 29, 1995. OMB believes that the 30
day notice informs the regulated
community to file relevant comments
and affords the agency adequate time to
digest public comments before it
renders a decision. 60 FR 44983, Aug.
29, 1995. Therefore, respondents should
submit their respective comments to
OMB within 30 days of publication to
best ensure having their full effect. 5
CFR 1320.12(c); see also 60 FR 44983,
Aug. 29, 1995.
The summary below describes the
nature of the information collection
requirements (ICRs) and the expected
burden, and are being submitted for
clearance by OMB as required by the
PRA.
E:\FR\FM\04FEN1.SGM
04FEN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 23 (Monday, February 4, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7855-7857]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-02267]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
[FMCSA Docket No. FMCSA-2012-0349]
Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Diabetes
Mellitus
AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT
ACTION: Notice of final disposition.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: FMCSA announces its decision to exempt 12 individuals from its
rule prohibiting persons with insulin-treated diabetes mellitus (ITDM)
from operating commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce.
The exemptions will enable these individuals to operate CMVs in
interstate commerce.
DATES: The exemptions are effective February 4, 2013. The exemptions
expire on February 4, 2015.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elaine M. Papp, Chief, Medical
Programs Division, (202) 366-4001, fmcsamedical@dot.gov, FMCSA, Room
W64-224, Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE.,
Washington, DC 20590-0001. Office hours are from 8:30 a.m. to
[[Page 7856]]
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.
Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or
comments, go to https://www.regulations.gov and/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.
Privacy Act: Anyone may search the electronic form of all comments
received into any of DOT's 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, or other
entity). You may review DOT's Privacy Act Statement for the Federal
Docket Management System (FDMS) published in the Federal Register on
December 29, 2010 (75 FR 82132), or you may visit https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2010-12-29/pdf/2010-32876.pdf.
Background
On December 13, 2012, FMCSA published a notice of receipt of
Federal diabetes exemption applications from 12 individuals and
requested comments from the public (77 FR 74271). The public comment
period closed on January 14, 2013, and no comments were received.
FMCSA has evaluated the eligibility of the 12 applicants and
determined that granting the exemptions to these individuals would
achieve a level of safety equivalent to or greater than the level that
would be achieved by complying with the current regulation 49 CFR
391.41(b)(3).
Diabetes Mellitus and Driving Experience of the Applicants
The Agency established the current requirement for diabetes in 1970
because several risk studies indicated that drivers with diabetes had a
higher rate of crash involvement than the general population. The
diabetes rule provides that ``A person is physically qualified to drive
a commercial motor vehicle if that person has no established medical
history or clinical diagnosis of diabetes mellitus currently requiring
insulin for control'' (49 CFR 391.41(b)(3)).
FMCSA established its diabetes exemption program, based on the
Agency's July 2000 study entitled ``A Report to Congress on the
Feasibility of a Program to Qualify Individuals with Insulin-Treated
Diabetes Mellitus to Operate in Interstate Commerce as Directed by the
Transportation Act for the 21st Century.'' The report concluded that a
safe and practicable protocol to allow some drivers with ITDM to
operate CMVs is feasible. The September 3, 2003 (68 FR 52441), Federal
Register notice in conjunction with the November 8, 2005 (70 FR 67777),
Federal Register notice provides the current protocol for allowing such
drivers to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.
These 12 applicants have had ITDM over a range of 1 to 50 years.
These applicants report no severe hypoglycemic reactions resulting in
loss of consciousness or seizure, requiring the assistance of another
person, or resulting in impaired cognitive function that occurred
without warning symptoms, in the past 12 months and no recurrent (2 or
more) severe hypoglycemic episodes in the past 5 years. In each case,
an endocrinologist verified that the driver has demonstrated a
willingness to properly monitor and manage his/her diabetes mellitus,
received education related to diabetes management, and is on a stable
insulin regimen. These drivers report no other disqualifying
conditions, including diabetes-related complications. Each meets the
vision requirement at 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10).
The qualifications and medical condition of each applicant were
stated and discussed in detail in the December 13, 2012, Federal
Register notice and they will not be repeated in this notice.
Discussion of Comments
FMCSA received no comments in this proceeding.
Basis for Exemption Determination
Under 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315, FMCSA may grant an exemption
from the diabetes requirement in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(3) if the exemption
is likely to achieve an equivalent or greater level of safety than
would be achieved without the exemption. The exemption allows the
applicants to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.
To evaluate the effect of these exemptions on safety, FMCSA
considered medical reports about the applicants' ITDM and vision, and
reviewed the treating endocrinologists' medical opinion related to the
ability of the driver to safely operate a CMV while using insulin.
Consequently, FMCSA finds that in each case exempting these
applicants from the diabetes requirement in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(3) is
likely to achieve a level of safety equal to that existing without the
exemption.
Conditions and Requirements
The terms and conditions of the exemption will be provided to the
applicants in the exemption document and they include the following:
(1) That each individual submit a quarterly monitoring checklist
completed by the treating endocrinologist as well as an annual
checklist with a comprehensive medical evaluation; (2) that each
individual reports within 2 business days of occurrence, all episodes
of severe hypoglycemia, significant complications, or inability to
manage diabetes; also, any involvement in an accident or any other
adverse event in a CMV or personal vehicle, whether or not it is
related to an episode of hypoglycemia; (3) 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 (4) that
each individual provide a copy of the annual medical certification to
the employer for retention in the driver's qualification file, or keep
a copy in his/her driver's qualification file if he/she is self-
employed. The driver must also have a copy of the certification when
driving, for presentation to a duly authorized Federal, State, or local
enforcement official.
Conclusion
Based upon its evaluation of the 12 exemption applications, FMCSA
exempts Dennis W. Baseman (MN), Kathy L. Brown (IN), Charles K. Eudy
(TX), John C. Evans (IL), Thomas J. Ferry (NJ), Jeffrey C. Hanson (TX),
Jeffrey D. Kivett (IN), Bryan M. Laffin (MD), Peter W. Prime (MA),
David E. Wagner (PA), Daniel V. Williamson (MN), and Charles F.
Woodford (WI) from the ITDM requirement in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(3), subject
to the conditions listed under ``Conditions and Requirements'' above.
In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315 each exemption will
be valid for two years unless revoked earlier by FMCSA. The exemption
will be revoked if the following occurs: (1) The person fails to comply
with the terms and conditions of the 1/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. If the
exemption is still effective at the end of the 2-year period, the
person may apply to FMCSA
[[Page 7857]]
for a renewal under procedures in effect at that time.
Issued on: January 18, 2013.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2013-02267 Filed 2-1-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P