Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Epilepsy and Seizure Disorders, 71564-71566 [2016-24966]
Download as PDF
71564
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 200 / Monday, October 17, 2016 / Notices
click on the ‘‘Live Video’’ link under
‘‘Information Center’’ at the left side of
the home page beginning at 10:00 a.m.
on October 25, 2016. The Board also
intends to hold a public hearing on the
report for all stakeholders and interested
parties to participate in this important
discourse. The date of that hearing will
be announced in a subsequent Board
decision.
Decided: October 12, 2016.
By the Board, Rachel D. Campbell,
Director, Office of Proceedings.
Kenyatta Clay,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2016–25020 Filed 10–14–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
[Summary Notice No. 2016–102]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Petition for Exemption; Summary of
Petition Received; 501ZD
Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
This notice contains a
summary of a petition seeking relief
from specified requirements of Title 14
of the Code of Federal Regulations. The
purpose of this notice is to improve the
public’s awareness of, and participation
in, the FAA’s exemption process.
Neither publication of this notice nor
the inclusion or omission of information
in the summary is intended to affect the
legal status of the petition or its final
disposition.
SUMMARY:
Comments on this petition must
identify the petition docket number and
must be received on or before November
7, 2016.
ADDRESSES: Send comments identified
by docket number FAA–2016–6880
using any of the following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
https://www.regulations.gov and follow
the online instructions for sending your
comments electronically.
• Mail: Send comments to Docket
Operations, M–30; U.S. Department of
Transportation (DOT), 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE., Room W12–140, West
Building Ground Floor, Washington, DC
20590–0001.
• Hand Delivery or Courier: Take
comments to Docket Operations in
Room W12–140 of the West Building
Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE., Washington, DC, between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through
Friday, except Federal holidays.
jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
DATES:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
14:22 Oct 14, 2016
Jkt 241001
• Fax: Fax comments to Docket
Operations at 202–493–2251.
Privacy: In accordance with 5 U.S.C.
553(c), DOT solicits comments from the
public to better inform its rulemaking
process. DOT posts these comments,
without edit, including any personal
information the commenter provides, to
https://www.regulations.gov, as
described in the system of records
notice (DOT/ALL–14 FDMS), which can
be reviewed at https://www.dot.gov/
privacy.
Docket: Background documents or
comments received may be read at
https://www.regulations.gov at any time.
Follow the online instructions for
accessing the docket or go to the Docket
Operations in Room W12–140 of the
West Building Ground Floor at 1200
New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington,
DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
Deana Stedman, ANM–113, Federal
Aviation Administration, 1601 Lind
Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057–3356,
email deana.stedman@faa.gov, phone
(425) 227–2148.
This notice is published pursuant to
14 CFR 11.85.
Issued in Washington, DC, on October 3,
2016.
Lirio Liu,
Director, Office of Rulemaking.
Petition for Exemption
Docket No.: FAA–2016–6880.
Petitioner: 501ZD.
Section of 14 CFR Affected:
§ 25.841(a).
Description of Relief Sought: 501ZD
has requested that the FAA allow a
Cessna Citation 500 airplane to operate
to a maximum cruise altitude of 41,000
feet without incorporating the
provisions of Cessna/Textron Service
Bulletin SB500–21–9. This would result
in a maximum cabin pressure altitude of
10,000 feet during 14 CFR part 91
operations. Section 25.841(a) allows a
maximum cabin pressure altitude of not
more than 8,000 feet under normal
operating conditions.
[FR Doc. 2016–24962 Filed 10–14–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration
[Docket No. FMCSA–2014–0212]
Qualification of Drivers; Exemption
Applications; Epilepsy and Seizure
Disorders
Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration (FMCSA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of renewal of
exemptions; request for comments.
AGENCY:
FMCSA announces its
decision to renew exemptions of three
individuals from the requirement in the
Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Regulations (FMCSRs) that interstate
commercial motor vehicle (CMV)
drivers have ‘‘no established medical
history or clinical diagnosis of epilepsy
or any other condition which is likely
to cause loss of consciousness or any
loss of ability to control a CMV.’’ The
exemptions enable these individuals
who have had one or more seizures and
are taking anti-seizure medication to
continue to operate CMVs in interstate
commerce.
DATES: The exemptions were effective
on August 28, 2016. The exemptions
will expire on August 28, 2018.
Comments must be received on or
before November 16, 2016.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
bearing the Federal Docket Management
System (FDMS) Docket No. FMCSA–
2014–0212 using any of the following
methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
online 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: 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(s) for this notice. Note
that all comments received will be
posted without change to https://
www.regulations.gov, including any
personal information provided. Please
see the Privacy Act heading below for
further information.
Docket: For access to the docket to
read background documents or
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\17OCN1.SGM
17OCN1
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 200 / Monday, October 17, 2016 / Notices
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 acknowledgement
page that appears after submitting
comments online.
Privacy Act: In accordance with 5
U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits comments
from the public to better inform its
rulemaking process. DOT posts these
comments, without edit, including any
personal information the commenter
provides, to https://www.regulations.gov,
as described in the system of records
notice (DOT/ALL–14 FDMS), which can
be reviewed at https://www.dot.gov/
privacy.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
Christine A. Hydock, 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., e.t., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays. If you have
questions regarding viewing or
submitting material to the docket,
contact Docket Services, telephone (202)
366–9826.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
I. Background
Under 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315,
FMCSA may grant an exemption for two
years if it finds ‘‘such exemption would
likely achieve a level of safety that is
equivalent to or greater than the level
that would be achieved absent such
exemption.’’ The statute also allows the
Agency to renew exemptions at the end
of the two-year period.
The physical qualification standard
for drivers regarding epilepsy found in
49 CFR 391.41(b)(8) states that a person
is physically qualified to drive a CMV
if that person:
Has no established medical history or
clinical diagnosis of epilepsy or any other
condition which is likely to cause the loss of
consciousness or any loss of ability to control
a CMV.
In addition to the regulations, FMCSA
has published advisory criteria to assist
Medical Examiners in determining
whether drivers with certain medical
conditions are qualified to operate a
CMV in interstate commerce. [49 CFR
VerDate Sep<11>2014
14:22 Oct 14, 2016
Jkt 241001
part 391, APPENDIX A TO PART 391—
MEDICAL ADVISORY CRITERIA,
section H. Epilepsy: § 391.41(b)(8),
paragraphs 3, 4, and 5.]
The three individuals listed in this
notice have requested renewal of their
exemptions from the Epilepsy and
Seizure Disorders prohibition in 49 CFR
391.41(b)(8), in accordance with
FMCSA procedures. Accordingly,
FMCSA has evaluated these
applications for renewal on their merits
and decided to extend each exemption
for a renewable two-year period.
II. Request for Comments
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.
III. 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.
In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e)
and 31315, each of the three applicants
has satisfied the conditions for
obtaining an exemption from the
Epilepsy and Seizure Disorder
requirements and were published in the
Federal Register (79 FR 73394). In
addition, for Commercial Driver’s
License (CDL) holders, the Commercial
Driver’s License information System
(CDLIS) and the Motor Carrier
Management Information System
(MCMIS) are searched for crash and
violation data. For non-CDL holders, the
Agency reviews the driving records
from the State Driver’s Licensing
Agency (SDLA). These factors provide
an adequate basis for predicting each
driver’s ability to continue to safely
operate a CMV in interstate commerce.
The three drivers in this notice
remain in good standing with the
Agency, have maintained their medical
monitoring and have not exhibited any
medical issues that would compromise
their ability to safely operate a CMV
during the previous two-year exemption
period. FMCSA has concluded that
renewing the exemptions for each of
these applicants is likely to achieve a
level of safety equal to that existing
without the exemption. Therefore,
FMCSA has decided to renew each
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71565
exemption for a two-year period. In
accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and
31315, each driver has received a
renewed exemption.
As of August 28, 2016, the following
three individuals have satisfied the
renewal conditions for obtaining an
exemption from the Epilepsy and
Seizure Disorders prohibition in 49 CFR
391.41(b)(8), from driving CMVs in
interstate commerce (79 FR 73394):
Peter Bender (MN); Terry Hamby (NC);
and Louis Lerch (IA).
These drivers were included in
FMCSA–2014–0212. The exemptions
were effective on August 28, 2016, and
will expire on August 28, 2018.
IV. Conditions and Requirements
The exemptions are extended subject
to the following conditions: (1) Each
driver must remain seizure-free and
maintain a stable treatment during the
two-year exemption period; (2) each
driver must submit annual reports from
their treating physicians attesting to the
stability of treatment and that the driver
has remained seizure-free; (3) each
driver must undergo an annual medical
examination by a certified Medical
Examiner, as defined by 49 CFR 390.5;
and (4) each driver must provide a copy
of the annual medical certification to
the employer for retention in the
driver’s qualification file, or keep a copy
of his/her driver’s qualification file if
he/she is self-employed. The driver
must also have a copy of the exemption
when driving, for presentation to a duly
authorized Federal, State, or local
enforcement official. 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.
V. Preemption
During the period the exemption is in
effect, no State shall enforce any law or
regulation that conflicts with this
exemption with respect to a person
operating under the exemption.
VI. Conclusion
Based upon its evaluation of the three
exemption applications, FMCSA renews
the exemptions of the aforementioned
drivers from the Epilepsy and Seizure
Disorders requirement in 49 CFR 391.41
(b)(8). In accordance with 49 U.S.C.
31136(e) and 31315, each exemption
will be valid for two years unless
revoked earlier by FMCSA.
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71566
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 200 / Monday, October 17, 2016 / Notices
Issued on: October 7, 2016.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2016–24966 Filed 10–14–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials
Safety Administration (PHMSA)
[Docket No. PHMSA–2016–0101]
Pipeline Safety: General Policy
Statement; Civil Penalties
Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety Administration
(PHMSA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The purpose of this policy
statement is to advise pipeline owners
and operators that the Pipeline and
Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration (PHMSA) has now made
a civil penalty framework accessible on
its Web site and, effective October 17,
2016, a respondent in an enforcement
case may request a proposed civil
penalty calculation related to that case.
It further advises pipeline owners and
operators that PHMSA will, as
appropriate, issue higher penalties in
order to apply stronger deterrence and
drive down incident risk.
DATES: A respondent in an enforcement
case may request the proposed civil
penalty calculation associated with its
case, effective October 17, 2016. In
addition, the civil penalty summary
attached to this policy statement is now
available on PHMSA’s Web site.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rod
Dyck, Enforcement Director, rod.dyck@
dot.gov, 202–366–3844.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In
accordance with chapter 601 of Title 49,
United States Code, after notice and an
opportunity for a hearing, the Associate
Administrator may assess a civil penalty
for a violation of a pipeline safety
regulation or order (49 U.S.C. 60122). In
order to provide summary guidance to
operators about the penalty ranges for
proposed penalties, PHMSA currently
provides a civil penalty framework
upon request, as referenced in an earlier
notice ‘‘Pipeline Safety: Administrative
Procedures; Updates and Technical
jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
14:22 Oct 14, 2016
Jkt 241001
Corrections’’ (78 FR 58897; September
25, 2013). PHMSA will now post the
civil penalty framework on its Web site
in order to provide greater transparency
regarding administrative civil penalties.
This summary will be updated
periodically and is available at https://
www.phmsa.dot.gov. Effective October
17, 2016, PHMSA will also provide a
more detailed proposed civil penalty
calculation upon request to a
respondent, along with the violation
report, and any other items in the case
file, as defined in 49 CFR 190.209.
PHMSA’s proposed penalty
calculation methodology is based upon
49 U.S.C. 60122 and 49 CFR 190.225.
The Associate Administrator must
consider:
(1) The nature, circumstances and gravity
of the violation, including adverse impact on
the environment; (2) The degree of the
respondent’s culpability; (3) The
respondent’s history of prior offenses; (4)
Any good faith by the respondent in
attempting to achieve compliance; and (5)
The effect on the respondent’s ability to
continue in business. The Associate
Administrator may consider: (1) The
economic benefit gained from violation, if
readily ascertainable, without any reduction
because of subsequent damages; and (2) Such
other matters as justice may require.
Consistent with this statutory
direction, enforcement personnel use a
proposed civil penalty calculation to
document consideration of these factors
and how its personnel arrive at a
proposed civil penalty.
The Pipeline Safety Act of 2011 (‘‘the
2011 Act’’) increased the maximum
administrative civil penalties for
violation of the pipeline safety laws and
regulations to $200,000 per violation per
day, with a maximum of $2,000,000 for
a related series of violations. These
administrative civil penalty maximums
apply to violations that occur or are
discovered after January 3, 2012. In
order to apply stronger deterrence and
drive down incident risk, PHMSA
intends to exercise its current authority,
as appropriate, which will result in
higher penalties across the board for any
violation of Federal pipeline safety
standards. In addition, PHMSA will give
greater weight to certain factors when
assessing civil penalties, specifically for
violations that: (1) Are causal to
incidents or that increase the severity of
incidents, including those involving
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Frm 00092
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
smaller hazardous liquid spills or
resulting in methane releases; (2) are
‘‘repeat offenses’’ or violations of the
same safety standard in the past five
years; and (3) involve multiple instances
of the same violation. Finally, PHMSA
recently increased its maximum civil
penalties to account for changes in
inflation. (Pipeline Safety: Inflation
Adjustment of Maximum Civil
Penalties, 81 FR 42564, June 30, 2016).
Administrative civil penalties
constitute only one of the enforcement
tools that PHMSA employs to promote
compliance with the pipeline safety
regulations. While PHMSA is providing
greater transparency to the regulated
community, the agency retains broad
discretion in its evaluation of the
assessment considerations outlined in
its regulations. The release of these
additional materials regarding the
proposed calculation of civil penalties
will not otherwise alter the
administrative enforcement process.
Civil Penalty Framework
This summary provides a general
overview to assist the public in
understanding civil penalty
calculations. Following an inspection or
investigation of a pipeline facility that
reveals a probable violation, the Office
of Pipeline Safety prepares a Violation
Report to document the violation. For
any violation that warrants a civil
penalty, data from the completed
Violation Report is used to calculate
risk-based civil penalties considering
the statutory assessment factors in 49
U.S.C. 60122 and 49 CFR 190.225.
The assessment factors are listed
below in the left side column of the
table. The middle column explains the
range of potential conduct that was
observed by PHMSA in connection with
the violation, generally from least to
most severe. A Violation Report must
make a selection within this range for
each assessment factor. The right side
column provides a range for the civil
penalty that may be assessed under each
assessment factor.
A civil penalty for a single violation
is arrived at by combining the amounts
assigned under each assessment factor.
Application of the assessment factors in
an individual case will depend on the
facts specific to that case.
BILLING CODE 4910–60–P
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 200 (Monday, October 17, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71564-71566]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-24966]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
[Docket No. FMCSA-2014-0212]
Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Epilepsy and
Seizure Disorders
AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of renewal of exemptions; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions of three
individuals from the requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Regulations (FMCSRs) that interstate commercial motor vehicle (CMV)
drivers have ``no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of
epilepsy or any other condition which is likely to cause loss of
consciousness or any loss of ability to control a CMV.'' The exemptions
enable these individuals who have had one or more seizures and are
taking anti-seizure medication to continue to operate CMVs in
interstate commerce.
DATES: The exemptions were effective on August 28, 2016. The exemptions
will expire on August 28, 2018. Comments must be received on or before
November 16, 2016.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments bearing the Federal Docket
Management System (FDMS) Docket No. FMCSA-2014-0212 using any of the
following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online 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: 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(s) for this notice. Note that all comments received will
be posted without change to https://www.regulations.gov, including any
personal information provided. Please see the Privacy Act heading below
for further information.
Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or
[[Page 71565]]
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 acknowledgement page that appears after submitting
comments online.
Privacy Act: In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits
comments from the public to better inform its rulemaking process. DOT
posts these comments, without edit, including any personal information
the commenter provides, to https://www.regulations.gov, as described in
the system of records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed
at https://www.dot.gov/privacy.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Christine A. Hydock, 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.,
e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. If you have
questions regarding viewing or submitting material to the docket,
contact Docket Services, telephone (202) 366-9826.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Under 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315, FMCSA may grant an exemption
for two years if it finds ``such exemption would likely achieve a level
of safety that is equivalent to or greater than the level that would be
achieved absent such exemption.'' The statute also allows the Agency to
renew exemptions at the end of the two-year period.
The physical qualification standard for drivers regarding epilepsy
found in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(8) states that a person is physically
qualified to drive a CMV if that person:
Has no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of
epilepsy or any other condition which is likely to cause the loss of
consciousness or any loss of ability to control a CMV.
In addition to the regulations, FMCSA has published advisory
criteria to assist Medical Examiners in determining whether drivers
with certain medical conditions are qualified to operate a CMV in
interstate commerce. [49 CFR part 391, APPENDIX A TO PART 391--MEDICAL
ADVISORY CRITERIA, section H. Epilepsy: Sec. 391.41(b)(8), paragraphs
3, 4, and 5.]
The three individuals listed in this notice have requested renewal
of their exemptions from the Epilepsy and Seizure Disorders prohibition
in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(8), in accordance with FMCSA procedures.
Accordingly, FMCSA has evaluated these applications for renewal on
their merits and decided to extend each exemption for a renewable two-
year period.
II. Request for Comments
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.
III. 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. In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315, each of
the three applicants has satisfied the conditions for obtaining an
exemption from the Epilepsy and Seizure Disorder requirements and were
published in the Federal Register (79 FR 73394). In addition, for
Commercial Driver's License (CDL) holders, the Commercial Driver's
License information System (CDLIS) and the Motor Carrier Management
Information System (MCMIS) are searched for crash and violation data.
For non-CDL holders, the Agency reviews the driving records from the
State Driver's Licensing Agency (SDLA). These factors provide an
adequate basis for predicting each driver's ability to continue to
safely operate a CMV in interstate commerce.
The three drivers in this notice remain in good standing with the
Agency, have maintained their medical monitoring and have not exhibited
any medical issues that would compromise their ability to safely
operate a CMV during the previous two-year exemption period. FMCSA has
concluded that renewing the exemptions for each of these applicants is
likely to achieve a level of safety equal to that existing without the
exemption. Therefore, FMCSA has decided to renew each exemption for a
two-year period. In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315, each
driver has received a renewed exemption.
As of August 28, 2016, the following three individuals have
satisfied the renewal conditions for obtaining an exemption from the
Epilepsy and Seizure Disorders prohibition in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(8), from
driving CMVs in interstate commerce (79 FR 73394): Peter Bender (MN);
Terry Hamby (NC); and Louis Lerch (IA).
These drivers were included in FMCSA-2014-0212. The exemptions were
effective on August 28, 2016, and will expire on August 28, 2018.
IV. Conditions and Requirements
The exemptions are extended subject to the following conditions:
(1) Each driver must remain seizure-free and maintain a stable
treatment during the two-year exemption period; (2) each driver must
submit annual reports from their treating physicians attesting to the
stability of treatment and that the driver has remained seizure-free;
(3) each driver must undergo an annual medical examination by a
certified Medical Examiner, as defined by 49 CFR 390.5; and (4) each
driver must provide a copy of the annual medical certification to the
employer for retention in the driver's qualification file, or keep a
copy of his/her driver's qualification file if he/she is self-employed.
The driver must also have a copy of the exemption when driving, for
presentation to a duly authorized Federal, State, or local enforcement
official. 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.
V. Preemption
During the period the exemption is in effect, no State shall
enforce any law or regulation that conflicts with this exemption with
respect to a person operating under the exemption.
VI. Conclusion
Based upon its evaluation of the three exemption applications,
FMCSA renews the exemptions of the aforementioned drivers from the
Epilepsy and Seizure Disorders requirement in 49 CFR 391.41 (b)(8). In
accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315, each exemption will be
valid for two years unless revoked earlier by FMCSA.
[[Page 71566]]
Issued on: October 7, 2016.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2016-24966 Filed 10-14-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P