Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Epilepsy and Seizure Disorders, 81983-81985 [2024-23358]

Agencies

• Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 196 (Wednesday, October 9, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 81983-81985]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-23358]



[[Page 81983]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2024-0027]


Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Epilepsy and 
Seizure Disorders

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

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

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SUMMARY: FMCSA announces receipt of applications from 11 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 November 8, 2024.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by the Federal Docket 
Management System Docket No. FMCSA-2024-0027 using any of the following 
methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov/, 
insert the docket number (FMCSA-2024-0027) in the keyword box and click 
``Search.'' Next, choose the only notice listed, and click on the 
``Comment'' button. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.
     Mail: Dockets Operations; U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building Ground Floor, 
Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery: West Building Ground Floor, 1200 New Jersey 
Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590-0001 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, FMCSA, DOT, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, 
Washington, DC 20590-0001, (202) 366-4001, [email protected]. 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 Dockets Operations, (202) 366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Public Participation

A. Submitting Comments

    If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this 
notice (Docket No. FMCSA-2024-0027), 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/FMCSA-2024-0027. Next, choose the only notice listed, click the 
``Comment'' 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. FMCSA will consider all comments and 
material received during the comment period.

B. Viewing Comments

    To view comments go to www.regulations.gov. Insert the docket 
number (FMCSA-2024-0027) in the keyword box and click ``Search.'' Next, 
choose the only notice listed, and click ``Browse Comments.'' If you do 
not have access to the internet, you may view the docket online by 
visiting Dockets Operations on the ground floor of the DOT West 
Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590-0001, 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 Dockets Operations.

C. Privacy Act

    In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31315(b)(6), DOT solicits comments 
from the public on the exemption request. 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 (Federal Docket Management System), which can be 
reviewed at https://www.transportation.gov/individuals/privacy/privacy-act-system-records-notices, the comments are searchable by the name of 
the submitter.

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 statutes also allow 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 epilepsy and seizure disorders 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 Sec.  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 (MEs) in determining whether 
drivers with certain medical conditions are qualified to operate a CMV 
in interstate commerce.
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    \1\ These criteria may be found in APPENDIX A TO PART 391--
MEDICAL ADVISORY CRITERIA, section H. Epilepsy: Sec.  391.41(b)(8), 
paragraphs 3, 4, and 5, which is available on the internet at 
https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2015-title49-vol5/pdf/CFR-2015-title49-vol5-part391-appA.pdf.
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    The criteria states that 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 ME in consultation with the treating physician.

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Before certification is considered, it is suggested that a 6-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 has 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 5-year 
period or more.
    As a result of MEs 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 ME 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 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 Sec.  391.41(b)(8).
    To be considered for an exemption from the epilepsy and seizure 
disorders prohibition in Sec.  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

Ethan Abbott

    Ethan Abbott is a 22-year-old class C license holder in 
Pennsylvania. They have a history of provoked seizures and have been 
seizure free since November 2015. They take anti-seizure medication 
with the dosage and frequency remaining the same since July 25, 2022. 
Their physician states that they are supportive of Ethan Abbott 
receiving an exemption.

Blake Bourgeois

    Blake Bourgeois is a 40-year-old class A commercial driver's 
license (CDL) holder in Louisiana. They have a history of epilepsy and 
have been seizure free since 2015. They take anti-seizure medication 
with the dosage and frequency remaining the same since March 2015. 
Their physician states that they are supportive of Blake Bourgeois 
receiving an exemption.

Richard Henry

    Richard Henry is a 58-year-old class F license holder in Missouri. 
They have a history of epilepsy and have been seizure free since 2003. 
They take anti-seizure medication with the dosage and frequency 
remaining the same since 2014. Their physician states that they are 
supportive of Richard Henry receiving an exemption.

Justin Knall

    Justin Knall is a 36-year-old class A CDL holder in Arkansas. They 
have a history of epilepsy and have been seizure free since February 
2016. They take anti-seizure medication with the dosage and frequency 
remaining the same since March 14, 2022. Their physician states that 
they are supportive of Justin Knall receiving an exemption.

Mark Merhalski

    Mark Merhalski is a 73-year-old class D license holder in 
Wisconsin. They have a history of epilepsy and have been seizure free 
since 2016. They take anti-seizure medication with the dosage and 
frequency remaining the same since 2016. Their physician states that 
they are supportive of Mark Merhalski receiving an exemption.

Andrew Murphy

    Andrew Murphy is a 36-year-old class D license holder in New York. 
They have a history of seizure disorder and have been seizure free 
since January 2010. They take anti-seizure medication with the dosage 
and frequency remaining the same since 2010. Their physician states 
that they are supportive of Andrew Murphy receiving an exemption.

Scott Oehlschlaeger

    Scott Oehlschlaeger is a 53-year-old class A CDL holder in 
California. They have a history of epilepsy and have been seizure free 
since October of 1991. They take anti-seizure medication with the 
dosage and frequency remaining the same since 1992. Their physician 
states that they are supportive of Scott Oehlschlaeger receiving an 
exemption.

Steven Outing

    Steven Outing is a 57-year-old class A CDL holder in North 
Carolina. They have a history of focal left temporal lobe epilepsy and 
have been seizure free since March 2013. They take anti-seizure 
medication with the dosage and frequency remaining the same since March 
2013. Their physician states that they are supportive of Steven Outing 
receiving an exemption.

Kristopher Parker

    Kristopher Parker is a 37-year-old class R license holder in 
Mississippi. They have a history of seizure disorder and have been 
seizure free since 2009. They take anti-seizure medication with the 
dosage and frequency remaining the same since 2016. Their physician 
states that they are supportive of Kristopher Parker receiving an 
exemption.

Nathaniel Price

    Nathaniel Price is a 35-year-old class D license holder in Ohio. 
They have a history of non-intractable epilepsy and have been seizure 
free since 2007. They take anti-seizure medication with the dosage and 
frequency remaining the same for over 20 years. Their physician states 
that they are supportive of Nathaniel Price receiving an exemption.

Ashley Wagner

    Ashley Wagner is a 38-year-old class D license holder in Wisconsin. 
They have a history of generalized convulsive epilepsy and have been 
seizure free since 2003. They take anti-seizure medication with the 
dosage and frequency remaining the same since 2013. Their physician 
states that they are supportive of Ashley Wagner 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

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business on the closing date indicated under the DATES section of the 
notice.

Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2024-23358 Filed 10-8-24; 8:45 am]
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