Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Vision

Published date14 May 2020
Record Number2020-10321
SectionNotices
CourtFederal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
Federal Register, Volume 85 Issue 94 (Thursday, May 14, 2020)
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 94 (Thursday, May 14, 2020)]
                [Notices]
                [Pages 29016-29018]
                From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
                [FR Doc No: 2020-10321]
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                DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
                Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
                [Docket No. FMCSA-1998-4334; FMCSA-2001-10578; FMCSA-2002-12844; FMCSA-
                2003-16564; FMCSA-2005-21711; FMCSA-2005-22194; FMCSA-2007-0017; FMCSA-
                2007-27897; FMCSA-2009-0291; FMCSA-2009-0303; FMCSA-2011-0140; FMCSA-
                2011-0298; FMCSA-2011-0325; FMCSA-2011-0365; FMCSA-2011-0366; FMCSA-
                2013-0168; FMCSA-2013-0169; FMCSA-2013-0170; FMCSA-2013-0174; FMCSA-
                2015-0048; FMCSA-2015-0053; FMCSA-2015-0056; FMCSA-2015-0072; FMCSA-
                2015-0344; FMCSA-2015-0345; FMCSA-2015-0347; FMCSA-2015-0348; FMCSA-
                2017-0018; FMCSA-2017-0020; FMCSA-2017-0024; FMCSA-2017-0026; FMCSA-
                2017-0027; FMCSA-2017-0028; FMCSA-2018-0006]
                Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Vision
                AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT.
                ACTION: Notice of final disposition.
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                SUMMARY: FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for 84
                individuals from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier
                Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) for interstate commercial motor vehicle
                (CMV) drivers. The exemptions enable these individuals to continue to
                operate CMVs in interstate commerce without meeting the vision
                requirement in one eye.
                DATES: Each group of renewed exemptions were applicable on the dates
                stated in the discussions below and will expire on the dates provided
                below.
                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 from 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:
                I. Public Participation
                A. Viewing Documents and Comments
                 To view comments, as well as any documents mentioned in this notice
                as being available in the docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov.
                Insert the docket number, FMCSA-1998-4334; FMCSA-2001-10578; FMCSA-
                2002-12844; FMCSA-2003-16564; FMCSA-
                [[Page 29017]]
                2005-21711; FMCSA-2005-22194; FMCSA-2007-0017; FMCSA-2007-27897; FMCSA-
                2009-0291; FMCSA-2009-0303; FMCSA-2011-0140; FMCSA-2011-0298; FMCSA-
                2011-0325; FMCSA-2011-0365; FMCSA-2011-0366; FMCSA-2013-0168; FMCSA-
                2013-0169; FMCSA-2013-0170; FMCSA-2013-0174; FMCSA-2015-0048; FMCSA-
                2015-0053; FMCSA-2015-0056; FMCSA-2015-0072; FMCSA-2015-0344; FMCSA-
                2015-0345; FMCSA-2015-0347; FMCSA-2015-0348; FMCSA-2017-0018; FMCSA-
                2017-0020; FMCSA-2017-0024; FMCSA-2017-0026; FMCSA-2017-0027; FMCSA-
                2017-0028; FMCSA-2018-0006, in the keyword box, and click ``Search.''
                Next, click the ``Open Docket Folder'' button 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.
                B. 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.dot.gov/privacy.
                II. Background
                 On February 7, 2020, FMCSA published a notice announcing its
                decision to renew exemptions for 84 individuals from the vision
                requirement in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10) to operate a CMV in interstate
                commerce and requested comments from the public (85 FR 6993). The
                public comment period ended on March 9, 2020, and no comments were
                received.
                 FMCSA has evaluated the eligibility of these applicants and
                determined that renewing these exemptions would achieve a level of
                safety equivalent to, or greater than, the level that would be achieved
                by complying with the current regulation Sec. 391.41(b)(10).
                 The physical qualification standard for drivers regarding vision
                found in Sec. 391.41(b)(10) states that a person is physically
                qualified to drive a CMV if that person has distant visual acuity of at
                least 20/40 (Snellen) in each eye without corrective lenses or visual
                acuity separately corrected to 20/40 (Snellen) or better with
                corrective lenses, distant binocular acuity of a least 20/40 (Snellen)
                in both eyes with or without corrective lenses, field of vision of at
                least 70[deg] in the horizontal meridian in each eye, and the ability
                to recognize the colors of traffic signals and devices showing red,
                green, and amber.
                III. Discussion of Comments
                 FMCSA received no comments in this proceeding.
                IV. Conclusion
                 Based on its evaluation of the 84 renewal exemption applications
                and comments received, FMCSA confirms its decision to exempt the
                following drivers from the vision requirement in Sec. 391.41(b)(10).
                 As of March 2, 2020, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and
                31315, the following 47 individuals have satisfied the renewal
                conditions for obtaining an exemption from the vision requirement in
                the FMCSRs for interstate CMV drivers (63 FR 66226; 64 FR 16517; 66 FR
                41656; 66 FR 53826; 66 FR 66966; 68 FR 54775; 68 FR 69434; 70 FR 48797;
                70 FR 48798; 70 FR 48799; 70 FR 48800; 70 FR 53412; 70 FR 57353; 70 FR
                72689; 70 FR 74102; 72 FR 46261; 72 FR 54972; 72 FR 62896; 72 FR 67340;
                73 FR 1395; 73 FR 5259; 74 FR 43221; 74 FR 53581; 74 FR 60021; 74 FR
                60022; 74 FR 65842; 74 FR 65845; 75 FR 1451; 75 FR 4623; 75 FR 9482; 76
                FR 37169; 76 FR 50318; 76 FR 53708; 76 FR 64171; 76 FR 70213; 76 FR
                75942; 76 FR 78728; 77 FR 539; 77 FR 541; 77 FR 543; 77 FR 545; 77 FR
                10604; 77 FR 10608; 78 FR 63302; 78 FR 64274; 78 FR 67452; 78 FR 67454;
                78 FR 68137; 78 FR 74223; 78 FR 76704; 78 FR 76707; 78 FR 77778; 78 FR
                77780; 78 FR 78475; 78 FR 78477; 79 FR 4531; 79 FR 4803; 79 FR 6993; 79
                FR 10619; 80 FR 26139; 80 FR 40122; 80 FR 48409; 80 FR 59230; 80 FR
                62163; 80 FR 67481; 80 FR 70060; 80 FR 76345; 80 FR 79414; 80 FR 80443;
                81 FR 1284; 81 FR 1474; 81 FR 15401; 81 FR 16265; 81 FR 20433; 81 FR
                44680; 81 FR 48493; 81 FR 60117; 82 FR 24430; 82 FR 33542; 82 FR 34564;
                82 FR 35050; 82 FR 47296; 82 FR 58262; 83 FR 2292; 83 FR 2311; 83 FR
                6919; 83 FR 6922; 83 FR 6925; 83 FR 15232; 83 FR 18648; 83 FR 24589):
                Garry A. Baker (OH)
                Steven A. Blinco (MT)
                James E. Bragg (WV)
                Lee S. Brown (ME)
                Cris D. Bush (TN)
                Johnnie E. Byler (PA)
                Stewart K. Clayton (TX)
                David N. Cleveland (ME)
                James J. Coffield (NM)
                Stephen W. Deminie (TX)
                Bruce J. Dowd (CT)
                David E. Evans (NC)
                Mark A. Farnsley (IN)
                Lee J. Gaffney (OH)
                Jason L. Hoovan (UT)
                Amos W. Hulsey (AL)
                Darryl H. Johnson (WV)
                Freddie H. Johnson (ID)
                David B. Jones (FL)
                Alfred Keehn (AZ)
                Karen L. Kelly (DE)
                Raymundo Maldonado (TX)
                Stephen E. McLaren (TN)
                Kevin D. Mendoza (WA)
                Ralph S. Miller (WV)
                Thomas B. Miller (VA)
                John M. Moore (PA)
                Kenneth R. Murphy (WA)
                William E. Norris (NC)
                Anthony D. Ovitt (VT)
                Daniel F. Perez (CA)
                Hubert O. Pollard (NC)
                Ronald F. Prezzia (IL)
                Steven S. Reinsvold (WI)
                Miguel A. Sanchez (NM)
                James A. Shepard (NY)
                Robert L. Simpson (NC)
                John R. Snyder (WA)
                David B. Stone (OK)
                Dustin W. Tharp (IA)
                Kirk A. Thelen (MI)
                John T. Thor (MN)
                Larry J. Waldner (SD)
                Eric C. Weidley (PA)
                William H. Wrice (OH)
                Reginald J. Wuethrich (IL)
                Chadwick L. Wyatt (NC)
                 The drivers were included in docket numbers FMCSA-1998-4334; FMCSA-
                2001-10578; FMCSA-2005-21711; FMCSA-2005-22194; FMCSA-2007-0017; FMCSA-
                2007-27897; FMCSA-2009-0291; FMCSA-2009-0303; FMCSA-2011-0140; FMCSA-
                2011-0298; FMCSA-2011-0325; FMCSA-2013-0168; FMCSA-2013-0169; FMCSA-
                2013-0170; FMCSA-2015-0048; FMCSA-2015-0053; FMCSA-2015-0056; FMCSA-
                2015-0072; FMCSA-2015-0344; FMCSA-2015-0345; FMCSA-2015-0347; FMCSA-
                2017-0018; FMCSA-2017-0020; FMCSA-2017-0024; FMCSA-2017-0026; and
                FMCSA-2017-0027. Their exemptions are applicable as of March 2, 2020,
                and will expire on March 2, 2022.
                 As of March 5, 2020, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and
                31315, the following four individuals have satisfied the renewal
                conditions for obtaining an exemption from the vision requirement in
                the FMCSRs for interstate CMV drivers (68 FR 74699; 69 FR 10503; 70 FR
                57353; 70 FR 72689; 71 FR 6829; 73 FR 8392; 75 FR 8184; 77 FR 7233; 79
                FR 10602; 81 FR 20433; 83 FR 6919):
                [[Page 29018]]
                Barton C. Caldara (WI)
                Allan Darley (UT)
                Richard Hailey, Jr. (DC)
                James T. Wortham, Jr. (GA)
                 The drivers were included in docket numbers FMCSA-2003-16564; and
                FMCSA-2005-22194. Their exemptions are applicable as of March 5, 2020,
                and will expire on March 5, 2022.
                 As of March 7, 2020, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and
                31315, the following individual has satisfied the renewal conditions
                for obtaining an exemption from the vision requirement in the FMCSRs
                for interstate CMV drivers (77 FR 3552; 77 FR 13691; 79 FR 12565; 81 FR
                20433; 83 FR 6919):
                Samuel V. Holder (IL)
                 The driver was included in docket number FMCSA-2011-0365. The
                exemption is applicable as of March 7, 2020, and will expire on March
                7, 2022.
                 As of March 10, 2020, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and
                31315, the following seven individuals have satisfied the renewal
                conditions for obtaining an exemption from the vision requirement in
                the FMCSRs for interstate CMV drivers (81 FR 6573; 81 FR 28136; 83 FR
                6919):
                Thomas M. Bowman (OH)
                Robert W. Fawcett (PA)
                Harry J. Glynn (LA)
                Dennis C. Rokes (IA)
                Brian W. Roughton (MO)
                Steven A. Van Raalte (IL)
                Brian J. Yole (TX)
                 The drivers were included in docket number FMCSA-2015-0348. Their
                exemptions are applicable as of March 10, 2020, and will expire on
                March 10, 2022.
                 As of March 13, 2020, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and
                31315, the following seven individuals have satisfied the renewal
                conditions for obtaining an exemption from the vision requirement in
                the FMCSRs for interstate CMV drivers (79 FR 1908; 79 FR 14333; 81 FR
                20433; 83 FR 6919):
                Jackie K. Curlin (KY)
                Justin W. Demarchi (OH)
                Jimmey C. Harris (TX)
                David G. Henry (TX)
                Rogelio C. Hernandez (CA)
                Jason C. Sadler (KY)
                Michael O. Thomas (NC)
                 The drivers were included in docket number FMCSA-2013-0174. Their
                exemptions are applicable as of March 13, 2020, and will expire on
                March 13, 2022.
                 As of March 15, 2020, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and
                31315, the following individual has satisfied the renewal conditions
                for obtaining an exemption from the vision requirement in the FMCSRs
                for interstate CMV drivers (67 FR 68719; 68 FR 2629; 70 FR 7545; 72 FR
                40362; 74 FR 64124; 77 FR 10606; 79 FR 14328; 81 FR 20433; 83 FR 6919):
                Wayne H. Holt (UT)
                 The driver was included in docket number FMCSA-2002-12844. The
                exemption is applicable as of March 15, 2020, and will expire on March
                15, 2022.
                 As of March 17, 2020, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and
                31315, the following 16 individuals have satisfied the renewal
                conditions for obtaining an exemption from the vision requirement in
                the FMCSRs for interstate CMV drivers (83 FR 6681; 83 FR 6694; 83 FR
                24151; 83 FR 24571):
                Rodney P. Barfield (GA)
                Michael W. Belknap (VT)
                Kenneth W. Blake (KS)
                Scott M. Cavanaugh (OK)
                Justin D. Craft (AR)
                James M. Ferry (OH)
                Jacob A. Hehr (IL)
                Mike B. Houston (OR)
                Marvin R. Knecht (ND)
                Randolph W. Lewis (CA)
                Curvin L. Martin (PA)
                Martin Munoz (TX)
                Edwin Quiles (FL)
                Robert L. Redding (NC)
                Gerald A. Vaughn (OH)
                Richard E. Wixom (MI)
                 The drivers were included in docket numbers FMCSA-2017-0028; and
                FMCSA-2018-0006. Their exemptions are applicable as of March 17, 2020,
                and will expire on March 17, 2022.
                 As of March 23, 2020, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and
                31315, the following individual has satisfied the renewal conditions
                for obtaining an exemption from the vision requirement in the FMCSRs
                for interstate CMV drivers (77 FR 5874; 77 FR 17117; 79 FR 13085; 81 FR
                20433; 83 FR 6919):
                Glenn R. Theis (MN)
                 The driver was included in docket number FMCSA-2011-0366. The
                exemption is applicable as of March 23, 2020, and will expire on March
                23, 2022.
                 In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31315(b), each exemption will be valid
                for 2 years from the effective date unless revoked earlier by FMCSA.
                The exemption will be revoked if the following occurs: (1) The person
                fails to comply with the terms and conditions of the exemption; (2) the
                exemption has resulted in a lower level of safety than was maintained
                prior to being 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(b).
                Larry W. Minor,
                Associate Administrator for Policy.
                [FR Doc. 2020-10321 Filed 5-13-20; 8:45 am]
                BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P
                

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