536 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 3 / Thursday, January 5, 2012 / Notices 

1Section 4129(a) refers to the 2003 notice as a 

‘‘final rule.’’ However, the 2003 notice did not issue 

a ‘‘final rule’’ but did establish the procedures and 

standards for issuing exemptions for drivers with 

ITDM. 

business on the closing date indicated 

in the date section of the notice. 

FMCSA notes that section 4129 of the 

Safe, Accountable, Flexible and 

Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A 

Legacy for Users requires the Secretary 

to revise its diabetes exemption program 

established on September 3, 2003 (68 FR 

52441).1 The revision must provide for 

individual assessment of drivers with 

diabetes mellitus, and be consistent 

with the criteria described in section 

4018 of the Transportation Equity Act 

for the 21st Century (49 U.S.C. 31305). 

Section 4129 requires: (1) Elimination 

of the requirement for 3 years of 

experience operating CMVs while being 

treated with insulin; and (2) 

establishment of a specified minimum 

period of insulin use to demonstrate 

stable control of diabetes before being 

allowed to operate a CMV. 

In response to section 4129, FMCSA 

made immediate revisions to the 

diabetes exemption program established 

by the September 3, 2003 notice. 

FMCSA discontinued use of the 3-year 

driving experience and fulfilled the 

requirements of section 4129 while 

continuing to ensure that operation of 

CMVs by drivers with ITDM will 

achieve the requisite level of safety 

required of all exemptions granted 

under 49 U.S.C. 31136(e). 

Section 4129(d) also directed FMCSA 

to ensure that drivers of CMVs with 

ITDM are not held to a higher standard 

than other drivers, with the exception of 

limited operating, monitoring and 

medical requirements that are deemed 

medically necessary. 

The FMCSA concluded that all of the 

operating, monitoring and medical 

requirements set out in the September 3, 

2003 notice, except as modified, were in 

compliance with section 4129(d). 

Therefore, all of the requirements set 

out in the September 3, 2003 notice, 

except as modified by the notice in the 

Federal Register on November 8, 2005 

(70 FR 67777), remain in effect. 

Issued on: December 22, 2011. 

Larry W. Minor, 

Associate Administrator for Policy. 

[FR Doc. 2011–33786 Filed 1–4–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Motor Carrier Safety 

Administration 

[FMCSA Docket No. FMCSA–2011–0301] 

Qualification of Drivers; Exemption 

Applications; Diabetes Mellitus 

AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety 

Administration (FMCSA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of final disposition. 

SUMMARY: FMCSA announces its 

decision to exempt eighteen individuals 

from its rule prohibiting persons with 

insulin-treated diabetes mellitus (ITDM) 

from operating commercial motor 

vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce. 

The exemptions will enable these 

individuals to operate CMVs in 

interstate commerce. 

DATES: The exemptions are effective 

January 5, 2012. The exemptions expire 

on January 5, 2014. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Elaine M. Papp, Chief, Medical 

Programs Division, (202) 366–4001, 

fmcsamedical@dot.gov, FMCSA, Room 

W64–224, Department of 

Transportation, 1200 New Jersey 

Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590– 

0001. Office hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 

5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 

Federal holidays. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Electronic Access 

You may see all the comments online 

through the Federal Document 

Management System (FDMS) at: http:// 

www.regulations.gov. 

Docket: For access to the docket to 

read background documents or 

comments, go to http:// 

www.regulations.gov and/or Room 

W12–140 on the ground level of the 

West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue 

SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. 

and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 

except Federal holidays. 

Privacy Act: Anyone may search the 

electronic form of all comments 

received into any of DOT’s dockets by 

the name of the individual submitting 

the comment (or of the person signing 

the comment, if submitted on behalf of 

an association, business, labor union, or 

other entity). You may review DOT’s 

Privacy Act Statement for the Federal 

Docket Management System (FDMS) 

published in the Federal Register on 

January 17, 2008 (73 FR 3316), or you 

may visit http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/ 

2008/pdf/E8-785.pdf. 

Background 

On November 21, 2011, FMCSA 

published a notice of receipt of Federal 

diabetes exemption applications from 

eighteen individuals and requested 

comments from the public (76 FR 

72031). The public comment period 

closed on December 21, 2011, and no 

comments were received. 

FMCSA has evaluated the eligibility 

of the eighteen applicants and 

determined that granting the 

exemptions to these individuals would 

achieve a level of safety equivalent to or 

greater than the level that would be 

achieved by complying with the current 

regulation 49 CFR 391.41(b)(3). 

Diabetes Mellitus and Driving 

Experience of the Applicants 

The Agency established the current 

requirement for diabetes in 1970 

because several risk studies indicated 

that drivers with diabetes had a higher 

rate of crash involvement than the 

general population. The diabetes rule 

provides that ‘‘A person is physically 

qualified to drive a commercial motor 

vehicle if that person has no established 

medical history or clinical diagnosis of 

diabetes mellitus currently requiring 

insulin for control’’ (49 CFR 

391.41(b)(3)). 

FMCSA established its diabetes 

exemption program, based on the 

Agency’s July 2000 study entitled ‘‘A 

Report to Congress on the Feasibility of 

a Program to Qualify Individuals with 

Insulin-Treated Diabetes Mellitus to 

Operate in Interstate Commerce as 

Directed by the Transportation Act for 

the 21st Century.’’ The report concluded 

that a safe and practicable protocol to 

allow some drivers with ITDM to 

operate CMVs is feasible. The 

September 3, 2003 (68 FR 52441), 

Federal Register notice in conjunction 

with the November 8, 2005 (70 FR 

67777), Federal Register notice provides 

the current protocol for allowing such 

drivers to operate CMVs in interstate 

commerce. 

These eighteen applicants have had 

ITDM over a range of 1 to 31 years. 

These applicants report no severe 

hypoglycemic reactions resulting in loss 

of consciousness or seizure, requiring 

the assistance of another person, or 

resulting in impaired cognitive function 

that occurred without warning 

symptoms, in the past 12 months and no 

recurrent (2 or more) severe 

hypoglycemic episodes in the past 5 

years. In each case, an endocrinologist 

verified that the driver has 

demonstrated a willingness to properly 

monitor and manage his/her diabetes 

mellitus, received education related to 

diabetes management, and is on a stable 

insulin regimen. These drivers report no 

other disqualifying conditions, 

including diabetes-related 


emcdonald on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 3 / Thursday, January 5, 2012 / Notices 537 

complications. Each meets the vision 

requirement at 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10). 

The qualifications and medical 

condition of each applicant were stated 

and discussed in detail in the November 

21, 2011, Federal Register notice and 

they will not be repeated in this notice. 

Discussion of Comment 

FMCSA received two comments in 

this proceeding. The comments were 

considered and discussed below. 

Laura J. Krol of the Pennsylvania 

Department of Transportation has 

reviewed the driving histories of Gerald 

R. Curran, Shawn K. Fleming and 

Kenneth B. Pratt and supports granting 

them waivers. 

Michael R. Simmons of Hoenwald, 

Tennessee expressed his 

disappointment that he cannot obtain a 

Federal waiver, as he is an intrastate 

driver. 

In response to this comment, 

FMCSA’s exemption process supports 

drivers with ITDM who seek to operate 

in interstate commerce. 

Basis for Exemption Determination 

Under 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315, 

FMCSA may grant an exemption from 

the diabetes requirement in 49 CFR 

391.41(b)(3) if the exemption is likely to 

achieve an equivalent or greater level of 

safety than would be achieved without 

the exemption. The exemption allows 

the applicants to operate CMVs in 

interstate commerce. 

To evaluate the effect of these 

exemptions on safety, FMCSA 

considered medical reports about the 

applicants’ ITDM and vision, and 

reviewed the treating endocrinologists’ 

medical opinion related to the ability of 

the driver to safely operate a CMV while 

using insulin. 

Consequently, FMCSA finds that in 

each case exempting these applicants 

from the diabetes requirement in 49 CFR 

391.41(b)(3) is likely to achieve a level 

of safety equal to that existing without 

the exemption. 

Conditions and Requirements 

The terms and conditions of the 

exemption will be provided to the 

applicants in the exemption document 

and they include the following: (1) That 

each individual submit a quarterly 

monitoring checklist completed by the 

treating endocrinologist as well as an 

annual checklist with a comprehensive 

medical evaluation; (2) that each 

individual reports within 2 business 

days of occurrence, all episodes of 

severe hypoglycemia, significant 

complications, or inability to manage 

diabetes; also, any involvement in an 

accident or any other adverse event in 

a CMV or personal vehicle, whether or 

not it is related to an episode of 

hypoglycemia; (3) that each individual 

provide a copy of the ophthalmologist’s 

or optometrist’s report to the medical 

examiner at the time of the annual 

medical examination; and (4) that each 

individual provide a copy of the annual 

medical certification to the employer for 

retention in the driver’s qualification 

file, or keep a copy in his/her driver’s 

qualification file if he/she is selfemployed. The driver must also have a 

copy of the certification when driving, 

for presentation to a duly authorized 

Federal, State, or local enforcement 

official. 

Conclusion 

Based upon its evaluation of the 

eighteen exemption applications, 

FMCSA exempts, Mark A. Aspden 

(MA), Rodney C. Backus (NY), Peter A. 

Breister (WI), Gerald R. Curran (PA), 

Shawn K. Fleming (PA), Daniel C. 

French (VA), Garry W. Garrison (WI), 

Gregory L. Horton (GA), Anthony B. 

Jones (WI), Jay T. Kirschmann (ND), 

Patrick G. Landers (NY), Paul J. 

Marshall (UT), Robert J. Pierce (MI), 

Kenneth B. Pratt (PA), James G. Rahn 

(IA), Ward A. Stone (WI), Todd J. 

Timmerman (WI) and James L. Weinert 

(OH) from the ITDM requirement in 49 

CFR 391.41(b)(3), subject to the 

conditions listed under ‘‘Conditions and 

Requirements’’ above. 

In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) 

and 31315 each exemption will be valid 

for two years 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 before it 

was 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. If the exemption is 

still effective at the end of the 2-year 

period, the person may apply to FMCSA 

for a renewal under procedures in effect 

at that time. 

Issued on: December 27, 2011. 

Larry W. Minor, 

Associate Administrator for Policy. 

[FR Doc. 2011–33779 Filed 1–4–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Motor Carrier Safety 

Administration 

[Docket No. FMCSA–2011–0389] 

Qualification of Drivers; Exemption 

Applications; Epilepsy and Seizure 

Disorders 

AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety 

Administration (FMCSA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of applications for 

exemption, request for comments. 

SUMMARY: FMCSA announces receipt of 

applications from 15 individuals for an 

exemption from the prohibition against 

persons with a clinical diagnosis of 

epilepsy or any other condition which 

is likely to cause a loss of consciousness 

or any loss of ability to operate a 

commercial motor vehicle (CMV) from 

operating CMVs in interstate commerce. 

If granted, the exemptions would enable 

these individuals with seizure disorders 

to operate CMVs in interstate commerce. 

DATES: Comments must be received on 

or before February 6, 2012. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments 

bearing the Federal Docket Management 

System (FDMS) Docket ID FMCSA– 

2011–0389 using any of the following 

methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

on-line instructions for submitting 

comments. 

• Mail: Docket Management Facility; 

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., Monday 

through Friday, except Federal holidays. 

• Fax: 1–(202) 493–2251. 

Each submission must include the 

Agency name and the docket ID for this 

Notice. Note that DOT posts all 

comments received without change to 

http://www.regulations.gov, including 

any personal information included in a 

comment. Please see the Privacy Act 

heading below. 

Docket: For access to the docket to 

read background documents or 

comments, go to http:// 

www.regulations.gov at any time or 

Room W12–140 on the ground level of 

the West Building, 1200 New Jersey 

Avenue SE., Washington, DC, between 9 

a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through 

Friday, except Federal holidays. The 

FDMS is available 24 hours each day, 

365 days each year. If you want 


emcdonald on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES