Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 229 / Friday, November 27, 2020 / Notices 76149 

1These criteria may be found in Appendix A to 

Part 391—Medical Advisory Criteria, section H. 

Epilepsy: § 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. 

4. Land: Section 4(f) of the 

Department of Transportation Act of 

1966 [49 U.S.C. 303]. 

5. Wildlife: Endangered Species Act 

(ESA) [16 U.S.C. 1531–1544 and Section 

1536]; Fish and Wildlife Coordination 

Act [16 U.S.C. 661–667d]; Migratory 

Bird Treaty Act [16 U.S.C. 703–712]. 

6. Historic and Cultural Resources: 

Section 106 of the National Historic 

Preservation Act of 1966, as amended 

[16 U.S.C. 470(f) et seq.]; Archeological 

Resources Protection Act of 1977 [16 

U.S.C. 470(aa)–470(ll)]; Archeological 

and Historic Preservation Act [16 U.S.C. 

469–469c]; Native American Grave 

Protection and Repatriation Act 

(NAGPRA) [25 U.S.C. 3001–3013]. 

7. Social and Economic: Civil Rights 

Act of 1964 [42 U.S.C. 2000(d)– 

2000(d)(1)]; American Indian Religious 

Freedom Act [42 U.S.C. 1996]; Farmland 

Protection Policy Act (FPPA) [7 U.S.C. 

4201–4209]. 

8. Wetlands and Water Resources: 

Coastal Zone Management Act [16 

U.S.C. 1451–1465]; Land and Water 

Conservation Fund (LWCF) [16 U.S.C. 

4601–4604]; Safe Drinking Water Act 

(SDWA) [42 U.S.C. 300(f)–300(j)(6)]; 

Wild and Scenic Rivers Act [16 U.S.C. 

1271–1287]; Flood Disaster Protection 

Act [42 U.S.C. 4001–4128]. 

9. Hazardous Materials: 

Comprehensive Environmental 

Response, Compensation, and Liability 

Act (CERCLA) [42 U.S.C. 9601–9675]; 

Superfund Amendments and 

Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA); 

Resource Conservation and Recovery 

Act (RCRA) [42 U.S.C. 6901–6992(k)]. 

10. Executive Orders: E.O. 11990 

Protection of Wetlands; E.O. 11988 

Floodplain Management; E.O. 12898, 

Federal Actions to Address 

Environmental Justice in Minority 

Populations and Low Income 

Populations; E.O. 11593 Protection and 

Enhancement of Cultural Resources; 

E.O. 13007 Indian Sacred Sites; E.O. 

13287 Preserve America; E.O. 13175 

Consultation and Coordination with 

Indian Tribal Governments; E.O. 11514 

Protection and Enhancement of 

Environmental Quality; E.O. 13045 

Protection of Children From 

Environmental Health Risks and Safety 

Risks; E.O. 13112 Invasive Species. 

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance 

Program Number 20.205, Highway Planning 

and Construction. The regulations 

implementing E.O. 12372 regarding 

intergovernmental consultation on Federal 

programs and activities apply to this 

program.) 

Authority: 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1). 

Issued on: November 18, 2020. 

Moises Marrero, 

Division Administrator, Atlanta, Georgia. 

[FR Doc. 2020–25851 Filed 11–25–20; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Motor Carrier Safety 

Administration 

[FMCSA Docket No. FMCSA–2020–0050] 

Qualification of Drivers; Exemption 

Applications; Epilepsy and Seizure 

Disorders 

AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety 

Administration (FMCSA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of final disposition. 

SUMMARY: FMCSA announces its 

decision to exempt six individuals from 

the requirement in the Federal Motor 

Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) 

that interstate commercial motor vehicle 

(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.’’ 

The exemptions enable these 

individuals who have had one or more 

seizures and are taking anti-seizure 

medication to operate CMVs in 

interstate commerce. 

DATES: The exemptions were applicable 

on October 16, 2020. The exemptions 

expire on October 16, 2022. 

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/ 

docket?D=FMCSA-2020-0050 and 

choose the document to review. If you 

do not have access to the internet, you 

may view the docket online by visiting 

the 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 September 16, 2020, FMCSA 

published a notice announcing receipt 

of applications from six individuals 

requesting an exemption from the 

epilepsy and seizure disorders 

prohibition in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(8) and 

requested comments from the public (85 

FR 57926). The public comment period 

ended on October 16, 2020, and no 

comments were received. 

FMCSA has evaluated the eligibility 

of these applicants and determined that 

granting exemptions to these 

individuals would achieve a level of 

safety equivalent to, or greater than, the 

level that would be achieved by 

complying with § 391.41(b)(8). 

The physical qualification standard 

for drivers regarding epilepsy found in 

§ 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. 

III. Discussion of Comments 

FMCSA received no comments in this 

proceeding. 

IV. Basis for Exemption Determination 

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 


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76150 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 229 / Friday, November 27, 2020 / Notices 

level of safety that is equivalent to, or 

greater than, the level that would be 

achieved absent such exemption. The 

statute also allows 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 Agency’s decision regarding these 

exemption applications is based on the 

2007 recommendations of the Agency’s 

Medical Expert Panel. The Agency 

conducted an individualized assessment 

of each applicant’s medical information, 

including the root cause of the 

respective seizure(s) and medical 

information about the applicant’s 

seizure history, the length of time that 

has elapsed since the individual’s last 

seizure, the stability of each individual’s 

treatment regimen and the duration of 

time on or off of anti-seizure 

medication. In addition, the Agency 

reviewed the treating clinician’s 

medical opinion related to the ability of 

the driver to safely operate a CMV with 

a history of seizure and each applicant’s 

driving record found in the Commercial 

Driver’s License Information System for 

commercial driver’s license (CDL) 

holders, and interstate and intrastate 

inspections recorded in the Motor 

Carrier Management Information 

System. For non-CDL holders, the 

Agency reviewed the driving records 

from the State Driver’s Licensing 

Agency. A summary of each applicant’s 

seizure history was discussed in the 

September 16, 2020, Federal Register 

notice (85 FR 57926) and will not be 

repeated in this notice. 

These six applicants have been 

seizure-free over a range of 12 to 38 

years while taking anti-seizure 

medication and maintained a stable 

medication treatment regimen for the 

last 2 years. In each case, the applicant’s 

treating physician verified his or her 

seizure history and supports the ability 

to drive commercially. 

The Agency acknowledges the 

potential consequences of a driver 

experiencing a seizure while operating a 

CMV. However, the Agency believes the 

drivers granted this exemption have 

demonstrated that they are unlikely to 

have a seizure and their medical 

condition does not pose a risk to public 

safety. 

Consequently, FMCSA finds that in 

each case exempting these applicants 

from the epilepsy and seizure disorder 

prohibition in § 391.41(b)(8) is likely to 

achieve a level of safety equal to that 

existing without the exemption. 

V. Conditions and Requirements 

The terms and conditions of the 

exemption are provided to the 

applicants in the exemption document 

and includes the following: (1) Each 

driver must remain seizure-free and 

maintain a stable treatment during the 

2-year exemption period; (2) each driver 

must submit annual reports from their 

treating physicians attesting to the 

stability of treatment and that the driver 

has remained seizure-free; (3) each 

driver must undergo an annual medical 

examination by a certified ME, as 

defined by § 390.5; and (4) each driver 

must provide a copy of the annual 

medical certification to the employer for 

retention in the driver’s qualification 

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

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

copy of the exemption when driving, for 

presentation to a duly authorized 

Federal, State, or local enforcement 

official. 

VI. Preemption 

During the period the exemption is in 

effect, no State shall enforce any law or 

regulation that conflicts with this 

exemption with respect to a person 

operating under the exemption. 

VII. Conclusion 

Based upon its evaluation of the six 

exemption applications, FMCSA 

exempts the following drivers from the 

epilepsy and seizure disorder 

prohibition, § 391.41(b)(8), subject to the 

requirements cited above: 

Robert S. Kessler (KS) 

Thomas J. Kline (PA) 

Jeffrey T. Lang (PA) 

Ty Martin (WV) 

Rick S. Morrison (NC) 

Darrel Rinder (CA) 

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. 2020–26160 Filed 11–25–20; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Motor Carrier Safety 

Administration 

[Docket No. FMCSA–2013–0109; FMCSA– 

2013–0442; FMCSA–2013–0443; FMCSA– 

2018–0051] 

Qualification of Drivers; Exemption 

Applications; Epilepsy and Seizure 

Disorders 

AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety 

Administration (FMCSA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of final disposition. 

SUMMARY: FMCSA announces its 

decision to renew exemptions for eight 

individuals from the requirement in the 

Federal Motor Carrier Safety 

Regulations (FMCSRs) that interstate 

commercial motor vehicle (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.’’ The 

exemptions enable these individuals 

who have had one or more seizures and 

are taking anti-seizure medication 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, (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–2013–0109, 

FMCSA–2013–0442, FMCSA–2013– 

0443, or FMCSA–2018–0051, 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 


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