Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 192 / Thursday, October 5, 2023 / Notices 69287 

during the previous 2-year exemption 

period. In addition, for commercial 

driver’s license (CDL) holders, the 

Commercial Driver’s License 

Information System and the Motor 

Carrier Management Information System 

are searched for crash and violation 

data. For non-CDL holders, the Agency 

reviews the driving records from the 

State Driver’s Licensing Agency. These 

factors provide an adequate basis for 

predicting each driver’s ability to 

continue to safely operate a CMV in 

interstate commerce. Therefore, FMCSA 

concludes that extending the exemption 

for each renewal applicant for a period 

of 2 years is likely to achieve a level of 

safety equal to that existing without the 

exemption. 

As of October 4, 2023, and in 

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

31315(b), the following seven 

individuals have satisfied the renewal 

conditions for obtaining an exemption 

from the epilepsy and seizure disorders 

prohibition in the FMCSRs for interstate 

CMV drivers: 

Douglas Day (IN) 

Dennis Klamm (MN) 

Michael Miller (TX) 

Ryan Moore (NC) 

William Swann (MD) 

Tyler Tilseth (NM) 

Adam Wilson (MN) 

The drivers were included in docket 

number FMCSA–2014–0214, FMCSA– 

2015–0116, FMCSA–2019–0030, 

FMCSA–2019–0031, FMCSA–2019– 

0033, or FMCSA–2019–0034. Their 

exemptions are applicable as of October 

4, 2023 and will expire on October 4, 

2025. 

V. Conditions and Requirements 

The exemptions are extended subject 

to the following conditions: (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. The exemption will be 

rescinded if: (1) the person fails to 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(b). 

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 on its evaluation of the seven 

exemption applications, FMCSA renews 

the exemptions of the aforementioned 

drivers from the epilepsy and seizure 

disorders prohibition in § 391.41(b)(8). 

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

and 31315(b), each exemption will be 

valid for 2 years unless revoked earlier 

by FMCSA. 

Larry W. Minor, 

Associate Administrator for Policy. 

[FR Doc. 2023–22122 Filed 10–4–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Motor Carrier Safety 

Administration 

[Docket No. FMCSA–2023–0022] 

Qualification of Drivers; Exemption 

Applications; Hearing 

AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety 

Administration (FMCSA), Department 

of Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Notice of final disposition. 

SUMMARY: FMCSA announces its 

decision to exempt 11 individuals from 

the hearing requirement in the Federal 

Motor Carrier Safety Regulations 

(FMCSRs) to operate a commercial 

motor vehicle (CMV) in interstate 

commerce. The exemptions enable these 

hard of hearing and deaf individuals to 

operate CMVs in interstate commerce. 

DATES: The exemptions are applicable 

on October 2, 2023. The exemptions 

expire on October 2, 2025. 

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 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 Comments 

To view comments go to 

www.regulations.gov. Insert the docket 

number (FMCSA–2023–0022) in the 

keyword box and click ‘‘Search.’’ Next, 

sort the results by ‘‘Posted (OlderNewer),’’ 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 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), which can be reviewed at 

https://www.transportation.gov/ 

individuals/privacy/privacy-act-systemrecords-notices, the comments are 

searchable by the name of the submitter. 

II. Background 

On August 21, 2023, FMCSA 

published a notice announcing receipt 

of applications from 11 individuals 

requesting an exemption from the 

hearing requirement in 49 CFR 

391.41(b)(11) to operate a CMV in 

interstate commerce and requested 

comments from the public (88 FR 

56913). The public comment period 

ended on September 20, 2023, and no 

comments were received. 

FMCSA has evaluated the eligibility 

of these applicants and determined that 

granting exemptions to these 

individuals would likely achieve a level 

of safety that is equivalent to, or greater 

than, the level that would be achieved 

by complying with § 391.41(b)(11). 

The physical qualification standard 

for drivers regarding hearing found in 

§ 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 


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69288 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 192 / Thursday, October 5, 2023 / Notices 

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). 

III. Discussion of Comments 

FMCSA received no comments in this 

proceeding. However, FMCSA received 

a comment from one of the applicants, 

Eric Shepeard, outside of the docket. 

Eric Shepeard stated that their class of 

license was incorrectly indicated in the 

notice published on August 21, 2023, 

(88 FR 56913). Their correct class of 

license is a class D license. 

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 

level of safety that is equivalent to, or 

greater than, the level that would be 

achieved absent such exemption. The 

statutes also allow the Agency to renew 

exemptions at the end of the 5-year 

period. However, 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 

relevant scientific information and 

literature, and the 2008 Evidence 

Report, ‘‘Executive Summary on 

Hearing, Vestibular Function and 

Commercial Motor Driving Safety.’’ The 

evidence report reached two 

conclusions regarding the matter of 

hearing loss and CMV driver safety: (1) 

no studies that examined the 

relationship between hearing loss and 

crash risk exclusively among CMV 

drivers were identified; and (2) evidence 

from studies of the private driver’s 

license holder population does not 

support the contention that individuals 

with hearing impairment are at an 

increased risk for a crash. In addition, 

the Agency reviewed each applicant’s 

driving record found in the Commercial 

Driver’s License Information System, for 

commercial driver’s license (CDL) 

holders, and 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. Each applicant’s record 

demonstrated a safe driving history. 

Based on an individual assessment of 

each applicant that focused on whether 

an equal or greater level of safety would 

likely be achieved by permitting each of 

these drivers to drive in interstate 

commerce, the Agency finds the drivers 

granted this exemption have 

demonstrated that they do not pose a 

risk to public safety. 

Consequently, FMCSA finds further 

that in each case exempting these 

applicants from the hearing standard in 

§ 391.41(b)(11) would likely achieve a 

level of safety equal to that existing 

without the exemption, consistent with 

the applicable standard in 49 U.S.C. 

31315(b)(1). 

V. Conditions and Requirements 

The terms and conditions of the 

exemption are provided to the 

applicants in the exemption document 

and include the following: (1) each 

driver must report any crashes or 

accidents as defined in § 390.5T; (2) 

each driver must report all citations and 

convictions for disqualifying offenses 

under 49 CFR parts 383 and 391 to 

FMCSA; and (3) each driver is 

prohibited from operating a motorcoach 

or bus with passengers in interstate 

commerce. The driver must also have a 

copy of the exemption when driving, for 

presentation to a duly authorized 

Federal, State, or local enforcement 

official. In addition, the exemption does 

not exempt the individual from meeting 

the applicable CDL testing 

requirements. 

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 11 

exemption applications, FMCSA 

exempts the following drivers from the 

hearing standard; in § 391.41(b)(11), 

subject to the requirements cited above: 

Eric Blount (AZ) 

Shaun Cannady (CA) 

Rebecca Haynes (TX) 

Kyesha Hemphill (MS) 

Kayla Lucero (NM) 

Alexandra Muller (AZ) 

Glenn Rozier (GA) 

Aaron Sanders (WA) 

Eric Shepeard (DE) 

Timothy Szabo (WI) 

Perry Wesberry (VA) 

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. 2023–22148 Filed 10–4–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY 

Internal Revenue Service 

Proposed Extension of Information 

Collection Request Submitted for 

Public Comment; Comment Request 

for Form 15254 

AGENCY: Internal Revenue Service (IRS), 

Treasury. 

ACTION: Notice and request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: The Internal Revenue Service, 

as part of its continuing effort to reduce 

paperwork and respondent burden, 

invites the public and other Federal 

agencies to take this opportunity to 

comment on proposed and/or 

continuing information collections, as 

required by the Paperwork Reduction 

Act of 1995. Currently, the IRS is 

soliciting comments concerning the 

burden associated with Form 15254, 

Request for Section 754 Revocation. 

DATES: Written comments should be 

received on or before December 4, 2023 

to be assured of consideration. 

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments 

to Andre ́s Garcia, Internal Revenue 

Service, Room 6526, 1111 Constitution 

Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20224, or 

by email to pra.comments@irs.gov. 

Please include, ‘‘OMB Number: 1545– 

2297—Public Comment Request Notice’’ 

in the Subject line. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Requests for additional information or 

copies of the form and instructions 

should be directed to Ronald J. Durbala, 

at (202) 317–5746, at Internal Revenue 

Service, Room 6526, 1111 Constitution 

Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20224, or 

through the internet at 

RJoseph.Durbala@irs.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Title: Request for Section 754 

Revocation. 

OMB Number: 1545–2297. 


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