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Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Hearing Publication: Federal Register Agency: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Byline: Larry W. Minor Date: 20 December 2022 Subject: American Government  , Driver Licensing
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 243 (Tuesday, December 20, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77914-77915]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-27540]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
[Docket No. FMCSA-2015-0329; FMCSA-2016-0002; FMCSA-2017-0058; FMCSA-
2017-0059; FMCSA-2017-0061; FMCSA-2018-0135; FMCSA-2018-0138; FMCSA-
2020-0027]
Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Hearing
AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), Department
of Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of final disposition.
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SUMMARY: FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for 23
individuals from the hearing requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier
Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) for interstate commercial motor vehicle
(CMV) drivers. The exemptions enable these hard of hearing and deaf
individuals to continue to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.
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, FMCSA, DOT, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Room
W64-224, Washington, DC 20590-0001, (202) 366-4001,
fmcsamedical@dot.gov. 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. Viewing Comments
To view comments go to www.regulations.gov. Insert the docket
number (FMCSA-2015-0329, FMCSA-2016-0002, FMCSA-2017-0058, FMCSA-2017-
0059, FMCSA-2017-0061, FMCSA-2018-0135, FMCSA-2018-0138, or FMCSA-2020-
0027) in the keyword box and click ``Search.'' Next, sort the results
by ``Posted (Newer-Older),'' choose the first 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 in Room W12-140
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.
B. Privacy Act
In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31315(b)(6), DOT solicits comments
from the public on the exemption requests. 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 (FDMS)), 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.
Background
On November 1, 2022, FMCSA published a notice announcing its
decision to renew exemptions for 23 individuals from the hearing
standard in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(11) to operate a CMV in interstate
commerce and requested comments from the public (87 FR 65849). The
public comment period ended on December 1, 2022, and no comments were
received.
FMCSA has evaluated the eligibility of these applicants and
determined that renewing these exemptions would likely achieve a level
of safety equivalent to, or greater than, the level that would be
achieved by complying with Sec. 391.41(b)(11).
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 (Apr. 22, 1970) and 36 FR 12857 (July 8, 1971),
respectively).
II. Discussion of Comments
FMCSA received no comments in this proceeding.
III. Conclusion
Based upon its evaluation of the 23 renewal exemption applications,
FMCSA announces its decision to exempt the following drivers from the
hearing requirement in
Sec. 391.41 (b)(11).
In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315(b), the following
groups of drivers received renewed exemptions in the month of October
and are discussed below:
As of October 13, 2022, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e)
and 31315(b), the following 14 individuals have satisfied the renewal
conditions for obtaining an exemption from the hearing requirement in
the FMCSRs for interstate CMV drivers (87 FR 65849):
Matthew Albrecht (PA)
Cory Adkins (FL)
Richard Blaine (PA)
Jacquelyn Hetherington (OK)
Agustin Hernandez (TX)
Andrew Hippler (ID)
Scott Lufkin (NC)
Paul Mansfield (KS)
Berenice Martinez (TX)
Jose Ramirez (IL)
Thomas Sneer (MN)
[[Page 77915]]
Daniel Stroud (UT)
Michael Sweet (GA)
Jason Wynne (TX)
The drivers were included in docket number FMCSA-2015-0329, FMCSA-
2016-0002, FMCSA-2017-0058, FMCSA-2017-0059, FMCSA-2017-0061, FMCSA-
2018-0135, and FMCSA-2018-0138. Their exemptions were applicable as of
October 13, 2022 and will expire on October 13, 2024.
As of October 30, 2022, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e)
and 31315(b), the following nine individuals have satisfied the renewal
conditions for obtaining an exemption from the hearing requirement in
the FMCSRs for interstate CMV drivers (87 FR 65849):
Adrian Almanza (IL)
Jimmy Benavides (TX)
James Bryan (AR)
William Heath (NC)
Kenneth Morrison (NY)
Darren Norton (MO)
Marty Posey (IN)
Anthony Vasquez (TX)
Daniel Zeolla (PA)
The drivers were included in docket number FMCSA-2020-0027. Their
exemptions were applicable as of October 30, 2022 and will expire on
October 30, 2024.
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, 49
U.S.C. chapter 313, or the FMCSRs.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2022-27540 Filed 12-19-22; 8:45 am]
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