Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Hearing, 30009-30010 [2020-10687]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 97 / Tuesday, May 19, 2020 / Notices is likely to cause loss of consciousness or any loss of ability to control a CMV.’’ Since that time, the Agency has published additional notices granting requests from individuals for exemptions from the regulatory requirement regarding epilepsy found in § 391.41(b)(8). To be considered for an exemption from the epilepsy and seizure disorders prohibition in § 391.41(b)(8), applicants must meet the criteria in the 2007 recommendations of the Agency’s Medical Expert Panel (78 FR 3069). III. Qualifications of Applicants Joseph Bellamy Mr. Bellamy is a 23-year-old class C driver in Maryland. He has a history of epilepsy and has been seizure free since 2011. He takes anti-seizure medication with the dosage and frequency remaining the same since 2014. His physician states that he is supportive of Mr. Bellamy receiving an exemption. Brian Bommer Mr. Bommer is a 31-year-old class D driver in Ohio. He has a history of seizure disorder and has been seizure free since 2012. He takes anti-seizure medication with the dosage and frequency remaining the same since 2012. His physician states that he is supportive of Mr. Bommer receiving an exemption. Allen Bradley Mr. Bradley is a 22-year-old class D driver in Alabama. He has a history of epilepsy and has been seizure free since 2010. He takes anti-seizure medication with the dosage and frequency remaining the same since 2008. His physician states that he is supportive of Mr. Bradley receiving an exemption. Sonny Chase Mr. Chase is a 52-year-old class B CDL holder in Minnesota. He has a history of epilepsy and has been seizure free since 2012. He takes anti-seizure medication with the dosage and frequency remaining the same since November 2015. His physician states that he is supportive of Mr. Chase receiving an exemption. Stephen Claphan Mr. Claphan is a 57-year-old class A CDL holder in Michigan. He has a history of epilepsy and has been seizure free since 1991. He takes anti-seizure medication with the dosage and frequency remaining the same since 2006. His physician states that he is supportive of Mr. Claphan receiving an exemption. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:57 May 18, 2020 Jkt 250001 30009 Robert King DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Mr. King is a 58-year-old class OPR– MC driver in New Hampshire. He has a history of a single unprovoked seizure and has been seizure free since 1995. His anti-seizure medication was discontinued in 2016. His physician states that she is supportive of Mr. King receiving an exemption. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Jason Miller Mr. Miller is a 33-year-old Class A driver in Nebraska. He has a history of epilepsy and has been seizure free since 2006. He takes anti-seizure medication with the dosage and frequency remaining the same since 2015. His physician states that he is supportive of Mr. Miller receiving an exemption. Michael Morris Mr. Morris is a 43-year-old class A CDL holder in Oregon. He has a history of epilepsy and has been seizure free since 2010. He takes anti-seizure medication with the dosage and frequency remaining the same since 2010. His physician states that he is supportive of Mr. Morris receiving an exemption. Daryl Schuetz Mr. Schuetz is a 59-year-old class D driver in Colorado. He has a history of epilepsy and has been seizure free since 1997. He takes anti-seizure medication with the dosage and frequency remaining the same since 2000. His physician states that he is supportive of Mr. Schuetz receiving an exemption. Thomas Smutnik Mr. Smutnik is a 41-year-old class B CDL holder in Pennsylvania. He has a history of epilepsy and has been seizure free since 2009. He takes anti-seizure medication with the dosage and frequency remaining the same since 2009. His physician states that he is supportive of Mr. Smutnik receiving an exemption. IV. Request for Comments In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315(b), 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 under the DATES section of the notice. Larry W. Minor, Associate Administrator for Policy. [FR Doc. 2020–10688 Filed 5–18–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P PO 00000 Frm 00091 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 [Docket No. FMCSA–2020–0025] Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Hearing Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of applications for exemption; request for comments. AGENCY: FMCSA announces receipt of applications from 11 individuals for an exemption from the hearing requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in interstate commerce. If granted, the exemptions would enable these hard of hearing and deaf individuals to operate CMVs in interstate commerce. DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 18, 2020. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by the Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) Docket No. FMCSA–2020–0025 using any of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov/ docket?D=FMCSA-2020-0025. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. • Mail: Docket Operations; 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., ET, Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays. • Fax: (202) 493–2251. To avoid duplication, please use only one of these four methods. See the ‘‘Public Participation’’ portion of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for instructions on submitting comments. 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., ET, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. If you have questions regarding viewing or submitting material to the docket, contact Docket Operations, (202) 366–9826. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\19MYN1.SGM 19MYN1 30010 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 97 / Tuesday, May 19, 2020 / Notices I. Public Participation A. Submitting Comments If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this notice (Docket No. FMCSA–2020–0025), indicate the specific section of this document to which each comment applies, and provide a reason for each suggestion or recommendation. 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/ docket?D=FMCSA-2020-0025. Click on the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ button and type your comment into the text box on the following screen. Choose whether you are submitting your comment as an individual or on behalf of a third party and then submit. 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, self-addressed postcard or envelope. FMCSA will consider all comments and material received during the comment period. B. Viewing Documents and Comments To view comments, as well as any documents mentioned in this notice as being available in the docket, go to https://www.regulations.gov/ docket?D=FMCSA-2020-0025 and choose the document to review. If you do not have access to the internet, you may view the docket online by visiting the Docket Operations in Room W12– 140 on the ground floor of the DOT West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., ET, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. To be sure someone is there to help you, please call (202) 366–9317 or (202) 366– 9826 before visiting Docket Operations. C. 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 www.regulations.gov, as described in VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:57 May 18, 2020 Jkt 250001 the system of records notice (DOT/ALL– 14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at www.transportation.gov/privacy. III. Qualifications of Applicants II. Background Mr. Affholter, 37, holds a class B license in Michigan. Under 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315(b), FMCSA may grant an exemption from the FMCSRs for no longer than a 5-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 5-year period. FMCSA grants medical exemptions from the FMCSRs for a 2year period to align with the maximum duration of a driver’s medical certification. The 11 individuals listed in this notice have requested an exemption from the hearing requirement in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(11). 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 hearing found in § 391.41(b)(11) states that a person is physically qualified to drive a CMV if that person first perceives a forced whispered voice in the better ear at not less than 5 feet with or without the use of a hearing aid or, if tested by use of an audiometric device, does not have an average hearing loss in the better ear greater than 40 decibels at 500 Hz, 1,000 Hz, and 2,000 Hz with or without a hearing aid when the audiometric device is calibrated to American National Standard (formerly ASA Standard) Z24.5—1951. This standard was adopted in 1970 and was revised in 1971 to allow drivers to be qualified under this standard while wearing a hearing aid, 35 FR 6458, 6463 (April 22, 1970) and 36 FR 12857 (July 3, 1971). On February 1, 2013, FMCSA announced in a Notice of Final Disposition titled, ‘‘Qualification of Drivers; Application for Exemptions; National Association of the Deaf,’’ (78 FR 7479), its decision to grant requests from 40 individuals for exemptions from the Agency’s physical qualification standard concerning hearing for interstate CMV drivers. Since that time the Agency has published additional notices granting requests from hard of hearing and deaf individuals for exemptions from the Agency’s physical qualification standard concerning hearing for interstate CMV drivers. PO 00000 Frm 00092 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 Joshua Affholter Badarch Gantulga Mr. Gantulga, 47, holds a class D license in Illinois. Awash Demoz Mr. Demoz, 36, holds a class C license in Maryland. Daniel DeSimone Mr. DeSimone, 53, holds a class A license in Maryland. Muhammad Javed Mr. Javed, 28, holds a class B license in Indiana. Charles O’Bryan Mr. O’Bryan, 45, holds a class D license in New York. Darrell Pfaff Mr. Pfaff, 65, holds a class C license in Texas. Juan Reyes, Jr. Mr. Reyes, 23, holds a class C license in Texas. Steven Rice Mr. Rice, 35, holds a class D license in New York. Anna Ruiz Ms. Ruiz, 50, holds a class D license in Arizona. Kyle Taylor Mr. Taylor, 28, holds a class C license in Georgia. IV. Request for Comments In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315(b), 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 under the DATES section of the notice. Larry W. Minor, Associate Administrator for Policy. [FR Doc. 2020–10687 Filed 5–18–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P E:\FR\FM\19MYN1.SGM 19MYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 97 (Tuesday, May 19, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30009-30010]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-10687]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2020-0025]


Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Hearing

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

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

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

SUMMARY: FMCSA announces receipt of applications from 11 individuals 
for an exemption from the hearing requirement in the Federal Motor 
Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) to operate a commercial motor 
vehicle (CMV) in interstate commerce. If granted, the exemptions would 
enable these hard of hearing and deaf individuals to operate CMVs in 
interstate commerce.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 18, 2020.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by the Federal Docket 
Management System (FDMS) Docket No. FMCSA-2020-0025 using any of the 
following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=FMCSA-2020-0025. Follow the online 
instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail: Docket Operations; 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., 
ET, Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays.
     Fax: (202) 493-2251.
    To avoid duplication, please use only one of these four methods. 
See the ``Public Participation'' portion of the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION section for instructions on submitting comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Christine A. Hydock, Chief, 
Medical Programs Division, (202) 366-4001, [email protected], 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., ET, 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. If you have questions 
regarding viewing or submitting material to the docket, contact Docket 
Operations, (202) 366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[[Page 30010]]

I. Public Participation

A. Submitting Comments

    If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this 
notice (Docket No. FMCSA-2020-0025), indicate the specific section of 
this document to which each comment applies, and provide a reason for 
each suggestion or recommendation. 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/docket?D=FMCSA-2020-0025. Click on the ``Comment Now!'' button and type 
your comment into the text box on the following screen. Choose whether 
you are submitting your comment as an individual or on behalf of a 
third party and then submit.
    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.
    FMCSA will consider all comments and material received during the 
comment period.

B. Viewing Documents and Comments

    To view comments, as well as any documents mentioned in this notice 
as being available in the docket, go to https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=FMCSA-2020-0025 and choose the document to review. If you do 
not have access to the internet, you may view the docket online by 
visiting the Docket Operations in Room W12-140 on the ground floor of 
the DOT West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590, 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., ET, Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. To be sure someone is there to help you, please call (202) 
366-9317 or (202) 366-9826 before visiting Docket Operations.

C. 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 www.regulations.gov, as described in the system 
of records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at 
www.transportation.gov/privacy.

II. Background

    Under 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315(b), FMCSA may grant an exemption 
from the FMCSRs for no longer than a 5-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 5-year period. FMCSA grants medical exemptions from the 
FMCSRs for a 2-year period to align with the maximum duration of a 
driver's medical certification.
    The 11 individuals listed in this notice have requested an 
exemption from the hearing requirement in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(11). 
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 hearing 
found in Sec.  391.41(b)(11) states that a person is physically 
qualified to drive a CMV if that person first perceives a forced 
whispered voice in the better ear at not less than 5 feet with or 
without the use of a hearing aid or, if tested by use of an audiometric 
device, does not have an average hearing loss in the better ear greater 
than 40 decibels at 500 Hz, 1,000 Hz, and 2,000 Hz with or without a 
hearing aid when the audiometric device is calibrated to American 
National Standard (formerly ASA Standard) Z24.5--1951.
    This standard was adopted in 1970 and was revised in 1971 to allow 
drivers to be qualified under this standard while wearing a hearing 
aid, 35 FR 6458, 6463 (April 22, 1970) and 36 FR 12857 (July 3, 1971).
    On February 1, 2013, FMCSA announced in a Notice of Final 
Disposition titled, ``Qualification of Drivers; Application for 
Exemptions; National Association of the Deaf,'' (78 FR 7479), its 
decision to grant requests from 40 individuals for exemptions from the 
Agency's physical qualification standard concerning hearing for 
interstate CMV drivers. Since that time the Agency has published 
additional notices granting requests from hard of hearing and deaf 
individuals for exemptions from the Agency's physical qualification 
standard concerning hearing for interstate CMV drivers.

III. Qualifications of Applicants

Joshua Affholter

    Mr. Affholter, 37, holds a class B license in Michigan.

Badarch Gantulga

    Mr. Gantulga, 47, holds a class D license in Illinois.

Awash Demoz

    Mr. Demoz, 36, holds a class C license in Maryland.

Daniel DeSimone

    Mr. DeSimone, 53, holds a class A license in Maryland.

Muhammad Javed

    Mr. Javed, 28, holds a class B license in Indiana.

Charles O'Bryan

    Mr. O'Bryan, 45, holds a class D license in New York.

Darrell Pfaff

    Mr. Pfaff, 65, holds a class C license in Texas.

Juan Reyes, Jr.

    Mr. Reyes, 23, holds a class C license in Texas.

Steven Rice

    Mr. Rice, 35, holds a class D license in New York.

Anna Ruiz

    Ms. Ruiz, 50, holds a class D license in Arizona.

Kyle Taylor

    Mr. Taylor, 28, holds a class C license in Georgia.

IV. Request for Comments

    In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315(b), 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 under the DATES 
section of the notice.

Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2020-10687 Filed 5-18-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P

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