Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Vision |
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Larry W. Minor
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
27 November 2020
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 229 (Friday, November 27, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76155-76156]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-26163]
[[Page 76155]]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
[Docket No. FMCSA-2000-7165; FMCSA-2002-12294; FMCSA-2006-23773; FMCSA-
2007-29019; FMCSA-2008-0106; FMCSA-2008-0231; FMCSA-2010-0082; FMCSA-
2010-0114; FMCSA-2011-0365; FMCSA-2011-0366; FMCSA-2012-0104; FMCSA-
2012-0160; FMCSA-2012-0161; FMCSA-2013-0028; FMCSA-2013-0169; FMCSA-
2013-0170; FMCSA-2013-0174; FMCSA-2014-0003; FMCSA-2014-0004; FMCSA-
2014-0007; FMCSA-2014-0010; FMCSA-2015-0056; FMCSA-2015-0070; FMCSA-
2015-0347; FMCSA-2016-0025; FMCSA-2016-0030; FMCSA-2016-0031; FMCSA-
2016-0033; FMCSA-2017-0022; FMCSA-2017-0026; FMCSA-2018-0007; FMCSA-
2018-0011; FMCSA-2018-0012; FMCSA-2018-0013; FMCSA-2018-0014]
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 44
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, 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.,
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. 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-2000-7165; FMCSA-2002-12294; FMCSA-
2006-23773; FMCSA-2007-29019; FMCSA-2008-0106; FMCSA-2008-0231; FMCSA-
2010-0082; FMCSA-2010-0114; FMCSA-2011-0365; FMCSA-2011-0366; FMCSA-
2012-0104; FMCSA-2012-0160; FMCSA-2012-0161; FMCSA-2013-0028; FMCSA-
2013-0169; FMCSA-2013-0170; FMCSA-2013-0174; FMCSA-2014-0003; FMCSA-
2014-0004; FMCSA-2014-0007; FMCSA-2014-0010; FMCSA-2015-0056; FMCSA-
2015-0070; FMCSA-2015-0347; FMCSA-2016-0025; FMCSA-2016-0030; FMCSA-
2016-0031; FMCSA-2016-0033; FMCSA-2017-0022; FMCSA-2017-0026; FMCSA-
2018-0007; FMCSA-2018-0011; FMCSA-2018-0012; FMCSA-2018-0013; FMCSA-
2018-0014, 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 Dockets 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 Dockets 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.transportation.gov/privacy.
II. Background
On October 8, 2020, FMCSA published a notice announcing its
decision to renew exemptions for 44 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 63649). The
public comment period ended on November 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 44 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 September 8, 2020, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e)
and 31315, the following 32 individuals have satisfied the renewal
conditions for obtaining an exemption from the vision requirement in
the FMCSRs for interstate CMV drivers (71 FR 6826; 71 FR 19602; 72 FR
58362; 72 FR 67344; 73 FR 11989; 73 FR 35198; 73 FR 48275; 74 FR 57553;
75 FR 13653; 75 FR 25919; 75 FR 39729; 75 FR 44051; 76 FR 70212; 77 FR
3552; 77 FR 5874; 77 FR 13691; 77 FR 17117; 77 FR 23797; 77 FR 38381;
77 FR 41879; 77 FR 46153; 77 FR 51846; 77 FR 52391; 78 FR 27281; 78 FR
41188; 78 FR 64274; 78 FR 67454; 78 FR 77778; 79 FR 1908; 79 FR 4803;
79 FR 13085; 79 FR 14333; 79 FR 14571; 79 FR 18392; 79 FR 23797; 79 FR
28588; 79 FR 29498; 79 FR 38659; 79 FR 41735; 79 FR 41740; 79 FR 46153;
79 FR 53514; 80 FR 33007; 80 FR 59230; 80 FR 63839; 80 FR 67476; 81 FR
1284; 81 FR 1474; 81 FR 15401; 81 FR 15404; 81 FR 20433; 81 FR 20435;
81 FR 21647; 81 FR 28138; 81 FR 45214; 81 FR 48493; 81 FR 52514; 81 FR
66726; 81 FR 68098; 81 FR 90050; 81 FR 91239; 82 FR 15277; 82 FR 37504;
82 FR 47309; 83 FR 2306; 83 FR 2311; 83 FR 6925; 83 FR 15195; 83 FR
15214; 83 FR 18648; 83 FR 24146; 83 FR 24585; 83 FR 28320; 83 FR 28325;
83 FR 28328; 83 FR 28332; 83 FR 28335; 83 FR 33292; 83 FR 34661; 83 FR
34677; 83 FR 40648; 83 FR 45749; 83 FR 54644):
Daniel C. Berry (AR)
Christopher L. Binkley (NH)
John R. Bohman (OH)
Clifford L. Burruss (CA)
Ronald H. Carey (PA)
Darrin G. Davis (WI)
Vincent DeMedici (PA)
Jeffrey D. Duncan (IN)
Paul D. Evenhouse (IL)
John W. Forgy (ID)
Grant G. Gibson (MN)
[[Page 76156]]
Rickey W. Goins (TN)
Jorge Gonzalez (FL)
John E. Halcomb (GA)
Nenad Harnos (NJ)
Brian D. Hoover (IA)
Alvin H. Horgdal (IA)
Elvin M. Hursh (PA)
Michael A. Kafer (KS)
Jason W. King (MT)
Allen J. Kunze (ND)
Mickey D. McCoy (TN)
Earl L. Mokma (MI)
Terrence A. Odrick (DE)
James L. Okonek (WI)
James C. Paschal, Jr. (GA)
Riland O. Richardson (GA)
Jacob H. Riggle (OK)
Michael J. Schmelzle (KS)
Gregory S. Smith (AR)
Larry L. Stewart (NC)
William B. Van Drielen (NV)
The drivers were included in docket numbers FMCSA-2006-23773; FMCSA-
2007-29019; FMCSA-2008-0106; FMCSA-2010-0082; FMCSA-2011-0365; FMCSA-
2011-0366; FMCSA-2012-0160; FMCSA-2012-0161; FMCSA-2013-0028; FMCSA-
2013-0169; FMCSA-2013-0170; FMCSA-2013-0174; FMCSA-2014-0003; FMCSA-
2014-0004; FMCSA-2014-0007; FMCSA-2015-0056; FMCSA-2015-0070; FMCSA-
2015-0347; FMCSA-2016-0025; FMCSA-2016-0030; FMCSA-2016-0031; FMCSA-
2017-0022; FMCSA-2017-0026; FMCSA-2018-0007; FMCSA-2018-0011; FMCSA-
2018-0012; FMCSA-2018-0013; and FMCSA-2018-0014. Their exemptions were
applicable as of September 8, 2020, and will expire on September 8,
2022.
As of September 9, 2020, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e)
and 31315, the following three individuals have satisfied the renewal
conditions for obtaining an exemption from the vision requirement in
the FMCSRs for interstate CMV drivers (75 FR 34212; 75 FR 47888; 77 FR
27847; 77 FR 38386; 77 FR 40945; 77 FR 41879; 77 FR 52391; 79 FR 29495;
79 FR 41735; 81 FR 81230; 83 FR 40638):
Michael J. Hoffarth (WA);
Shane N. Maul (IN); and
Robert Smiley (NM)
The drivers were included in docket numbers FMCSA-2010-0114; FMCSA-
2012-0104; FMCSA-2012-0161. Their exemptions were applicable as of
September 9, 2020, and will expire on September 9, 2022.
As of September 21, 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 (65 FR 33406; 65 FR 57234; 67 FR
46016; 67 FR 57266; 67 FR 57267; 69 FR 51346; 69 FR 52741; 71 FR 50970;
71 FR 53489; 73 FR 48270; 73 FR 51336; 75 FR 50799; 75 FR 52062; 77 FR
52389; 79 FR 46300; 81 FR 81230; 83 FR 40638):
Jack D. Clodfelter (NC)
Daniel K. Davis, III (MA)
Reginald I. Hall (TX)
Alfred C. Jewell, Jr. (WY)
The drivers were included in docket numbers FMCSA-2000-7165; and FMCSA-
2002-12294. Their exemptions were applicable as of September 21, 2020,
and will expire on September 21, 2022.
As of September 23, 2020, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e)
and 31315, the following three individuals have satisfied the renewal
conditions for obtaining an exemption from the vision requirement in
the FMCSRs for interstate CMV drivers (73 FR 46973; 73 FR 54888; 75 FR
52063; 77 FR 52388; 79 FR 52388; 81 FR 81230; 83 FR 40638):
Terrence L. Benning (WI);
Larry D. Curry (GA); and
Thomas P. Shank (NY)
The drivers were included in docket number FMCSA-2008-0231. Their
exemptions were applicable as of September 23, 2020, and will expire on
September 23, 2022.
As of September 29, 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 (81 FR 59266; 81 FR 74494; 83 FR
40638):
Gregory M. Anderson (NY)
The driver was included in docket number FMCSA-2016-0033. The
exemption was applicable as of September 29, 2020, and will expire on
September 29, 2022.
As of September 30, 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 (79 FR 51643; 79 FR 64001; 81 FR
81230; 83 FR 40638):
Loran J. Weiler (IA)
The driver was included in docket number FMCSA-2014-0010. The
exemption was applicable as of September 30, 2020, and will expire on
September 30, 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. 2020-26163 Filed 11-25-20; 8:45 am]
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