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###### Department of Transportation

###### Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

          - [Docket No. FMCSA-2024-0015]

# AGENCY:

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), Department of Transportation (DOT).

# ACTION:

Notice of applications for exemption; request for comments.

# SUMMARY:

FMCSA announces receipt of applications from 13 individuals for an exemption from the hearing requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in interstate commerce. If granted, the exemptions would enable these hard of hearing and deaf individuals to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

# DATES:

Comments must be received on or before October 16, 2024.

# ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments identified by the Federal Docket Management System Docket No. FMCSA-2024-0015 using any of the following methods:
      -  Federal eRulemaking Portal:                          Go to                          www.regulations.gov/​ , insert the docket number (FMCSA-2024-0015) in the keyword box and click “Search.” Next, choose the only notice listed, and click on the “Comment” button. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.                    
      -  Mail:                          Dockets Operations; U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building Ground Floor, Washington, DC 20590-0001.                    
      -  Hand Delivery:                          West Building Ground Floor, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590-0001, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays.                    
      -  Fax:                          (202) 493-2251.                    

                        To avoid duplication, please use only one of these four methods. See the “Public Participation” portion of the                         **SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION**                         section for instructions on submitting comments.                    

# 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. Submitting Comments

If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this notice (Docket No. FMCSA-2024-0015), indicate the specific section of this document to which each comment applies, and provide a reason for each suggestion or recommendation. You may submit your comments and material online or by fax, mail, or hand delivery, but please use only one of these means. FMCSA recommends that you include your name and a mailing address, an email address, or a phone number in the body of your document so that FMCSA can contact you if there are questions regarding your submission.

                    To submit your comment online, go to                     *https://www.regulations.gov/​docket/​FMCSA-2024-0015.*                     Next, sort the results by “Posted (Newer-Older),” choose the only notice listed, click the “Comment” button, and type your comment into the text box on the following screen. Choose whether you are submitting your comment as an individual or on behalf of a third party and then submit.                

                    If you submit your comments by mail or hand delivery, submit them in an unbound format, no larger than 8                    1/2                     by 11 inches, suitable for copying and electronic filing. FMCSA will consider all comments and material received during the comment period.                

### B. Viewing Comments

                    To view comments go to                     *www.regulations.gov.*                     Insert the docket number (FMCSA-2024-0015) in the keyword box and click “Search.” Next, choose the only 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 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.                

### C. 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-system-records-notices,*                     the comments are searchable by the name of the submitter.                

## II. Background

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. 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 13 individuals listed in this notice have requested an exemption from the hearing requirement in 49 CFR                           ( print page 75634)                        391.41(b)(11). Accordingly, the Agency will evaluate the qualifications of each applicant to determine whether granting the exemption will achieve the required level of safety mandated by statute.                

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 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).

On February 1, 2013, FMCSA announced in a Notice of Final Disposition titled, “Qualification of Drivers; Application for Exemptions; National Association of the Deaf,” (78 FR 7479), its decision to grant requests from 40 individuals for exemptions from the Agency's physical qualification standard concerning hearing for interstate CMV drivers. Since that time the Agency has published additional notices granting requests from hard of hearing and deaf individuals for exemptions from the Agency's physical qualification standard concerning hearing for interstate CMV drivers.

## III. Qualifications of Applicants

### Matthew Adams

Matthew Adams, 58, holds a regular driver's license in Indiana.

### Calvin Anderson

Calvin Anderson, 63, holds a class ABCDM commercial driver's license (CDL) in Wisconsin.

### Vanessa Arnao

Vanessa Arnao, 50, holds a class D driver's license in Virginia.

### Roxanne Blind

Roxanne Blind, 41, holds a class C driver's license in Texas.

### Wayne Haffner

Wayne Haffner, 79, holds a class A CDL in North Carolina.

### David Hollandsworth

David Hollandsworth, 67, holds a class A CDL in Indiana.

### Mara Jean Francois

Mara Jean Francois, 39, holds a class D driver's license in Connecticut.

### Abdifatah Jimale

Abdifatah Jimale, 31, holds a class D driver's license in Minnesota.

### Kang Lin

Kang Lin, 54, holds a class A driver's license in New York.

### Manasseh O'Brien

Manasseh O'Brien, 44, holds a class B CDL in New York.

### Joshua Ofiu

Joshua Ofiu, 37, holds a class C driver's license in California.

### Lee Smith

Lee Smith, 34, holds a class D driver's license in Idaho.

### Edwin Toscano

Edwin Toscano, 32, holds a class A driver's license in Georgia.

## IV. Request for Comments

                    In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315(b), FMCSA requests public comment from all interested persons on the exemption petitions described in this notice. We will consider all comments received before the close of business on the closing date indicated under the                     **DATES**                     section of the notice.                

Larry W. Minor,

Associate Administrator for Policy.

[FR Doc. 2024-20933 Filed 9-13-24; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P