Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Epilepsy and Seizure Disorders, 36072-36074 [2017-16244]

Download as PDF 36072 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 147 / Wednesday, August 2, 2017 / Notices sradovich on DSKBCFCHB2PROD with NOTICES commitments made to the United States. In accordance with section 421, and to assist in preparing this year’s report, the TPSC is soliciting public comments. You can view last year’s report on USTR’s Web site: https://ustr.gov/sites/ default/files/2015-Report-to-CongressChina-WTO-Compliance.pdf. The terms of China’s accession to the WTO are contained in the Protocol on the Accession of the People’s Republic of China (including its annexes) (Protocol), the Report of the Working Party on the Accession of China (Working Party Report), and the WTO agreements. You can find the Protocol and Working Party Report on the WTO Web site: https://docsonline.wto.org (document symbols: WT/L/432, WT/ MIN(01)/3, WT/MIN(01)/3/Add.1, WT/ MIN(01)/3/Add.2). 2. Public Comments and Hearing USTR invites written comments and/ or oral testimony on China’s compliance with commitments made in connection with its accession to the WTO, including, but not limited to, commitments in the following areas: a. Trading rights. b. Import regulation (e.g., tariffs, tariffrate quotas, quotas, import licenses); c. Export regulation. d. Internal policies affecting trade (e.g., subsidies, standards and technical regulations, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, government procurement, trade-related investment measures, taxes and charges levied on imports and exports). e. Intellectual property rights (including intellectual property rights enforcement). f. Services. g. Rule of law issues (e.g., transparency, judicial review, uniform administration of laws and regulations) and status of legal reform. h. Other WTO commitments. In addition, given the United States’ view that China should be held accountable as a full participant in, and beneficiary of, the international trading system, USTR requests that commenters specifically identify unresolved compliance issues that warrant review and evaluation by USTR’s China Enforcement Task Force. We must receive written comments no later than Wednesday, September 20, 2017. The TPSC will convene a public hearing on Wednesday, October 4, 2017. If necessary, the hearing will continue on the next business day. The hearing will be held at 1724 F Street NW., Washington, DC 20508 and will be open to the public and to the press. We must receive your written requests to present VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:43 Aug 01, 2017 Jkt 241001 oral testimony at the hearing and prehearing briefs, statements, or comments by Wednesday, September 20, 2017. You must make the intent to testify notification in the ‘‘Type Comment’’ field under docket number USTR–2017– 0011 on the www.regulations.gov Web site and you should include the name, address, telephone number and email address, if available, of the person presenting the testimony. You should attach a summary of the testimony by using the ‘‘Upload File’’ field. The name of the file also should include who will be presenting the testimony. Remarks at the hearing should be limited to no more than five minutes to allow for possible questions from the TPSC. You should submit all documents in accordance with the instructions in section 3 below. We will make a transcript of the hearing available on www.regulations.gov within approximately two weeks of the date of the hearing. 3. Requirements for Submissions In order to be assured of consideration, we must receive your written comments and notifications of intent to testify in English by Wednesday, September 20, 2017. USTR strongly encourages commenters to make on-line submissions, using the www.regulations.gov Web site. On the first page of the submission, please identify it as ‘‘China’s WTO Compliance.’’ To submit comments via www.regulations.gov, enter docket number USTR–2017–0011 on the home page and click ‘‘search.’’ The site will provide a search-results page listing all documents associated with this docket. Find a reference to this notice and click on the link entitled ‘‘Comment Now!’’ For further information on using the www.regulations.gov Web site, please consult the resources provided on the Web site by clicking on ‘‘How to Use Regulations.gov’’ on the bottom of the home page. We will not accept handdelivered submissions. The www.regulations.gov Web site allows users to submit comments by filling in a ‘‘Type Comment’’ field or by attaching a document using an ‘‘Upload File’’ field. USTR prefers that you submit comments in an attached document. If you attach a document, it is sufficient to type ‘‘See attached’’ in the ‘‘Type Comment’’ field. USTR prefers submissions in Microsoft Word (.doc) or Adobe Acrobat (.pdf). If you use an application other than those two, please indicate the name of the application in the ‘‘Type Comment’’ field. PO 00000 Frm 00147 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 For any comments submitted electronically containing business confidential information, the file name of the business confidential version should begin with the characters ‘‘BC’’. Any page containing business confidential information must be clearly marked ‘‘BUSINESS CONFIDENTIAL’’ on the top of that page. Filers of submissions containing business confidential information also must submit a public version of their comments that we will place in the docket for public inspection. The file name of the public version should begin with the character ‘‘P’’. The ‘‘BC’’ and ‘‘P’’ should be followed by the name of the person or entity submitting the comments. Filers submitting comments containing no business confidential information should name their file using the name of the person or entity submitting the comments. Please do not attach separate cover letters to electronic submissions; rather, include any information that might appear in a cover letter in the comments themselves. Similarly, to the extent possible, please include any exhibits, annexes, or other attachments in the same file as the submission itself, not as separate files. As noted, USTR strongly urges submitters to file comments through www.regulations.gov. You must make any alternative arrangements with Yvonne Jamison in advance of transmitting a comment. You can contact Ms. Jamison at (202) 395–3475. General information concerning USTR is available at www.ustr.gov. We will post comments in the docket for public inspection, except business confidential information. You can view comments on the www.regulations.gov Web site by entering the relevant docket number in the search field on the home page. Edward Gresser, Chair, Trade Policy Staff Committee, Office of the United States Trade Representative. [FR Doc. 2017–16204 Filed 8–1–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3290–F7–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration [Docket No. FMCSA–2017–0180] Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Epilepsy and Seizure Disorders Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT. AGENCY: E:\FR\FM\02AUN1.SGM 02AUN1 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 147 / Wednesday, August 2, 2017 / Notices Notice of applications for exemption; request for comments. ACTION: FMCSA announces receipt of applications from four individuals for an exemption from the prohibition in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) against persons with a clinical diagnosis of epilepsy or any other condition that is likely to cause a loss of consciousness or any loss of ability to control a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) to drive in interstate commerce. If granted, the exemptions would enable these individuals who have had one or more seizures and are taking anti-seizure medication to operate CMVs in interstate commerce. DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 1, 2017. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments bearing the Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) Docket No. FMCSA– 2017–0180 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., e.t., 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 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., e.t., 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 sradovich on DSKBCFCHB2PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:43 Aug 01, 2017 Jkt 241001 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 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 from the FMCSRs 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 statute also allows the Agency to renew exemptions at the end of the two-year period. The four individuals listed in this notice have requested an exemption from the epilepsy prohibition in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(8). Accordingly, the Agency will evaluate the qualifications of each applicant to determine whether granting the exemption will achieve the required level of safety mandated by statute. 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 1 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. 1 See https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID= e47b48a9ea42dd67d999246e23d97970&mc= true&node=pt49.5.391&rgn=div5#ap49.5.391_171.a and https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2015title49-vol5/pdf/CFR-2015-title49-vol5-part391appA.pdf. PO 00000 Frm 00148 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 36073 Epilepsy: § 391.41(b)(8), paragraphs 3, 4, and 5.] The advisory criteria states the following: If an individual has had a sudden episode of a non-epileptic seizure or loss of consciousness of unknown cause that did not require anti-seizure medication, the decision whether that person’s condition is likely to cause the loss of consciousness or loss of ability to control a CMV should be made on an individual basis by the Medical Examiner in consultation with the treating physician. Before certification is considered, it is suggested that a sixmonth waiting period elapse from the time of the episode. Following the waiting period, it is suggested that the individual have a complete neurological examination. If the results of the examination are negative and antiseizure medication is not required, then the driver may be qualified. In those individual cases where a driver had a seizure or an episode of loss of consciousness that resulted from a known medical condition (e.g., drug reaction, high temperature, acute infectious disease, dehydration, or acute metabolic disturbance), certification should be deferred until the driver has recovered fully from that condition, has no existing residual complications, and is not taking anti-seizure medication. Drivers who have a history of epilepsy/seizures, off anti-seizure medication and seizure-free for 10 years, may be qualified to operate a CMV in interstate commerce. Interstate drivers with a history of a single unprovoked seizure may be qualified to drive a CMV in interstate commerce if seizure-free and off anti-seizure medication for a five-year period or more. As a result of Medical Examiners misinterpreting advisory criteria as regulation, numerous drivers have been prohibited from operating a CMV in interstate commerce based on the fact that they have had one or more seizures and are taking anti-seizure medication, rather than an individual analysis of their circumstances by a qualified Medical Examiner based on the physical qualification standards and medical best practices. On January 15, 2013, FMCSA announced in a Notice of Final Disposition titled, Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Epilepsy and Seizure Disorders, (78 FR 3069), its decision to grant requests from 22 individuals for exemptions from the regulatory requirement that interstate CMV drivers have ‘‘no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of epilepsy or any other condition which is likely to cause loss of consciousness E:\FR\FM\02AUN1.SGM 02AUN1 36074 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 147 / Wednesday, August 2, 2017 / Notices or any loss of ability to control a CMV.’’ Since the January 15, 2013 notice, the Agency has published additional notices granting requests from individuals for exemptions from the regulatory requirement regarding epilepsy found in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(8). To be considered for an exemption from the epilepsy prohibition in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(8), applicants must meet the criteria in the 2007 recommendations of the Agency’s Medical Expert Panel (MEP) (78 FR 3069). II. Qualifications of Applicants Shane A. Brackett Mr. Brackett, 43, has a diagnosis of seizure disorder and been seizure-free since 1999. He is compliant with taking his anti-seizure medication. His physician states that he is supportive of Mr. Brackett receiving an exemption Peter Connors Mr. Connors, 25, has a diagnosis of seizure disorder and been seizure-free since 2009. He is compliant with taking his anti-seizure medication. His physician states that he is supportive of Mr. Connors receiving an exemption. Brian D. Krise Mr. Krise, 43, has a diagnosis of seizure disorder and been seizure-free since approximately 2002. He is compliant with taking his anti-seizure medication. His physician states that he is supportive of Mr. Krise receiving an exemption. Daniel Maben Mr. Maben, 49, has a history of head trauma in 1998 and two subsequent seizures. He has been seizure-free since 2002. He is compliant with taking antiseizure medication. His physician states that he is supportive of Mr. Maben receiving an exemption. are questions regarding your submission. To submit your comment online, go to https://www.regulations.gov and in the search box insert the docket number FMCSA–2017–0180 and click the search button. When the new screen appears, click on the blue ‘‘Comment Now!’’ button on the right hand side of the page. On the new page, enter information required including the specific section of this document to which each comment applies, and provide a reason for each suggestion or recommendation. If you submit your comments by mail or hand delivery, submit them in an unbound format, no larger than 81⁄2 by 11 inches, suitable for copying and electronic filing. If you submit comments by mail and would like to know that they reached the facility, please enclose a stamped, selfaddressed postcard or envelope. We will consider all comments and materials received during the comment period. FMCSA may issue a final determination at any time after the close of the comment period. V. Viewing Comments and Documents To view comments, as well as any documents mentioned in this preamble, go to https://www.regulations.gov and in the search box insert the docket number FMCSA–2017–0180 and click ‘‘Search.’’ Next, click ‘‘Open Docket Folder’’ and you will find all documents and comments related to this notice. Issued on: July 20, 2017. Larry W. Minor, Associate Administrator for Policy. [FR Doc. 2017–16244 Filed 8–1–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [Docket No. NHTSA–2017–0066] 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 DATES section of the notice. Federal Advisory Committee National Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council (NEMSAC) and Federal Interagency Committee on Emergency Medical Services (FICEMS); Notice of Meeting sradovich on DSKBCFCHB2PROD with NOTICES You may submit your comments and material online or by fax, mail, or hand delivery, but please use only one of these means. FMCSA recommends that you include your name and a mailing address, an email address, or a phone number in the body of your document so that FMCSA can contact you if there VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:43 Aug 01, 2017 Jkt 241001 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). ACTION: Notice of meeting. AGENCY: The NHTSA announces meetings of NEMSAC and FICEMS to be held consecutively in the Metropolitan Washington, DC area. This notice announces the date, time, and location of the meetings, which will be open to SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00149 Fmt 4703 The NEMSAC meeting will be held on August 14, 2017 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. EDT, and on August 15, 2017 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 Noon EDT. A public comment period will take place on August 14, 2017 between 11:15 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. EDT and August 15, 2017 between 10:45 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. EDT. Some NEMSAC subcommittees will meet in the same location on Monday, August 14, 2017 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. EDT. Written comments for the NEMSAC from the public must be received no later than August 7, 2017. The FICEMS meeting will be held on August 15, 2017 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. EDT. A public comment period will take place on August 15, 2017 between approximately 2:40 and 2:55 p.m. EDT. Written comments for FICEMS from the public must be received no later than August 1, 2017. DATES: The meetings will be held at the Capital Hilton, 1001 16th Street NW., Washington, DC 20036. Attendees should plan to arrive 10–15 minutes early. ADDRESSES: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: III. Request for Comments V. Submitting Comments the public, as well as opportunities for public input to the NEMSAC and FICEMS. The purpose of NEMSAC, a nationally recognized council of emergency medical services representatives and consumers, is to advise and consult with DOT and the FICEMS on matters relating to emergency medical services (EMS). The purpose of FICEMS is to ensure coordination among Federal agencies supporting EMS and 9–1–1 systems. Sfmt 4703 Gamunu Wijetunge, U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Emergency Medical Services, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., NTI–140, Washington, DC 20590, Gamunu.Wijetunge@dot.gov or 202–493–2793. Notice of the NEMSAC meeting is given under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 92–463, as amended (5 U.S.C. App.). The NEMSAC is authorized under Section 31108 of the Moving Ahead with Progress in the 21st Century Act of 2012. The FICEMS is authorized under Section 10202 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA–LU). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Tentative Agenda of the National EMS Advisory Council Meeting The tentative NEMSAC agenda includes the following: E:\FR\FM\02AUN1.SGM 02AUN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 147 (Wednesday, August 2, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36072-36074]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-16244]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2017-0180]


Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Epilepsy and 
Seizure Disorders

AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT.

[[Page 36073]]


ACTION: Notice of applications for exemption; request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: FMCSA announces receipt of applications from four individuals 
for an exemption from the prohibition in the Federal Motor Carrier 
Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) against persons with a clinical diagnosis 
of epilepsy or any other condition that is likely to cause a loss of 
consciousness or any loss of ability to control a commercial motor 
vehicle (CMV) to drive in interstate commerce. If granted, the 
exemptions would enable these individuals who have had one or more 
seizures and are taking anti-seizure medication to operate CMVs in 
interstate commerce.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 1, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments bearing the Federal Docket 
Management System (FDMS) Docket No. FMCSA-2017-0180 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., 
e.t., 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 
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., e.t., 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 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 
from the FMCSRs 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 
statute also allows the Agency to renew exemptions at the end of the 
two-year period.
    The four individuals listed in this notice have requested an 
exemption from the epilepsy prohibition in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(8). 
Accordingly, the Agency will evaluate the qualifications of each 
applicant to determine whether granting the exemption will achieve the 
required level of safety mandated by statute.
    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 \1\ 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.]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ See https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=e47b48a9ea42dd67d999246e23d97970&mc=true&node=pt49.5.391&rgn=div5#ap49.5.391_171.a and https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2015-title49-vol5/pdf/CFR-2015-title49-vol5-part391-appA.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The advisory criteria states the following:
    If an individual has had a sudden episode of a non-epileptic 
seizure or loss of consciousness of unknown cause that did not require 
anti-seizure medication, the decision whether that person's condition 
is likely to cause the loss of consciousness or loss of ability to 
control a CMV should be made on an individual basis by the Medical 
Examiner in consultation with the treating physician. Before 
certification is considered, it is suggested that a six-month waiting 
period elapse from the time of the episode. Following the waiting 
period, it is suggested that the individual have a complete 
neurological examination. If the results of the examination are 
negative and anti-seizure medication is not required, then the driver 
may be qualified.
    In those individual cases where a driver had a seizure or an 
episode of loss of consciousness that resulted from a known medical 
condition (e.g., drug reaction, high temperature, acute infectious 
disease, dehydration, or acute metabolic disturbance), certification 
should be deferred until the driver has recovered fully from that 
condition, has no existing residual complications, and is not taking 
anti-seizure medication.
    Drivers who have a history of epilepsy/seizures, off anti-seizure 
medication and seizure-free for 10 years, may be qualified to operate a 
CMV in interstate commerce. Interstate drivers with a history of a 
single unprovoked seizure may be qualified to drive a CMV in interstate 
commerce if seizure-free and off anti-seizure medication for a five-
year period or more.
    As a result of Medical Examiners misinterpreting advisory criteria 
as regulation, numerous drivers have been prohibited from operating a 
CMV in interstate commerce based on the fact that they have had one or 
more seizures and are taking anti-seizure medication, rather than an 
individual analysis of their circumstances by a qualified Medical 
Examiner based on the physical qualification standards and medical best 
practices.
    On January 15, 2013, FMCSA announced in a Notice of Final 
Disposition titled, Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; 
Epilepsy and Seizure Disorders, (78 FR 3069), its decision to grant 
requests from 22 individuals for exemptions from the regulatory 
requirement that interstate CMV drivers have ``no established medical 
history or clinical diagnosis of epilepsy or any other condition which 
is likely to cause loss of consciousness

[[Page 36074]]

or any loss of ability to control a CMV.'' Since the January 15, 2013 
notice, the Agency has published additional notices granting requests 
from individuals for exemptions from the regulatory requirement 
regarding epilepsy found in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(8).
    To be considered for an exemption from the epilepsy prohibition in 
49 CFR 391.41(b)(8), applicants must meet the criteria in the 2007 
recommendations of the Agency's Medical Expert Panel (MEP) (78 FR 
3069).

II. Qualifications of Applicants

Shane A. Brackett

    Mr. Brackett, 43, has a diagnosis of seizure disorder and been 
seizure-free since 1999. He is compliant with taking his anti-seizure 
medication. His physician states that he is supportive of Mr. Brackett 
receiving an exemption

Peter Connors

    Mr. Connors, 25, has a diagnosis of seizure disorder and been 
seizure-free since 2009. He is compliant with taking his anti-seizure 
medication. His physician states that he is supportive of Mr. Connors 
receiving an exemption.

Brian D. Krise

    Mr. Krise, 43, has a diagnosis of seizure disorder and been 
seizure-free since approximately 2002. He is compliant with taking his 
anti-seizure medication. His physician states that he is supportive of 
Mr. Krise receiving an exemption.

Daniel Maben

    Mr. Maben, 49, has a history of head trauma in 1998 and two 
subsequent seizures. He has been seizure-free since 2002. He is 
compliant with taking anti-seizure medication. His physician states 
that he is supportive of Mr. Maben receiving an exemption.

III. 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 dates 
section of the notice.

V. Submitting Comments

    You may submit your comments and material online or by fax, mail, 
or hand delivery, but please use only one of these means. FMCSA 
recommends that you include your name and a mailing address, an email 
address, or a phone number in the body of your document so that FMCSA 
can contact you if there are questions regarding your submission.
    To submit your comment online, go to https://www.regulations.gov and 
in the search box insert the docket number FMCSA-2017-0180 and click 
the search button. When the new screen appears, click on the blue 
``Comment Now!'' button on the right hand side of the page. On the new 
page, enter information required including the specific section of this 
document to which each comment applies, and provide a reason for each 
suggestion or recommendation. If you submit your comments by mail or 
hand delivery, submit them in an unbound format, no larger than 8\1/2\ 
by 11 inches, suitable for copying and electronic filing. If you submit 
comments by mail and would like to know that they reached the facility, 
please enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard or envelope.
    We will consider all comments and materials received during the 
comment period. FMCSA may issue a final determination at any time after 
the close of the comment period.

V. Viewing Comments and Documents

    To view comments, as well as any documents mentioned in this 
preamble, go to https://www.regulations.gov and in the search box insert 
the docket number FMCSA-2017-0180 and click ``Search.'' Next, click 
``Open Docket Folder'' and you will find all documents and comments 
related to this notice.

    Issued on: July 20, 2017.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2017-16244 Filed 8-1-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P
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