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###### Department of Transportation

###### Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

          - [FMCSA Docket No. FMCSA-2014-0312]

# AGENCY:

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT.

# ACTION:

Notice of final disposition.

# SUMMARY:

FMCSA confirms its decision to exempt 69 individuals from its rule prohibiting persons with insulin-treated diabetes mellitus (ITDM) from operating commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce. The exemptions enable these individuals to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

# DATES:

The exemptions were effective on February 24, 2015. The exemptions expire on February 24, 2017.

# FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

                        Charles A. Horan, III, Director, Carrier, Driver and Vehicle Safety Standards, (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:

## I. 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                           ( print page 19733)                        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:*                     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.dot.gov/​privacy.*

## II. Background

On January 23, 2014, FMCSA published a notice of receipt of Federal diabetes exemption applications from 69 individuals and requested comments from the public (80 FR 3724). The public comment period closed on February 23, 2015, and three comments were received.

FMCSA has evaluated the eligibility of the 69 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 69 applicants have had ITDM over a range of one to 29 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 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 January 23, 2014,                     **Federal Register**                     notice and they will not be repeated in this notice.                

## III. Discussion of Comments

FMCSA received three comments in this proceeding. The comments are discussed below.

The American Trucking Associations, Inc. (ATA) submitted a comment stating, “ATA believes that the increased volume of applications for exemption from parts of 49 CFR 391.41 is cause for concern. The granting of such a large number of exemptions dilutes the physical qualification standards and constitutes regulation through exemption. FMCSA must begin a dialogue on the need and effectiveness of these standards. If it is determined that these standards need to be altered, it must be done through the formal rulemaking process.” FMCSA is engaged in a formal rulemaking process, and is preparing to publish an NPRM in the spring of this year.

                    Scott Cleveland submitted a comment stating the                     **Federal Register**                     notice did not tell him if he was approved. As stated in the notice, all drivers listed will receive an exemption effective the day after the close of the request for comments period, barring any negative comments.                

                    An anonymous commenter submitted a comment stating that the                     **Federal Register**                     notice requesting comments does not state whether people are being granted an exemption because the comment period must end before the final determination is made.                

## IV. 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. 

## V. 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 self-employed. The driver must also have a copy of the certification when driving, for presentation to a duly authorized Federal, State, or local enforcement official.

## VI. Conclusion

Based upon its evaluation of the 69 exemption applications, FMCSA exempts the following drivers from the diabetes requirement in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10), subject to the requirements cited above 949 CFR 391.64(b)):
      ( print page 19734)    
Bryan L. Anderson (WA), Travis K. Archer (ME), Michael R. Batham (CA), Victor M. Beltran-Araujo (ID), Charles A. Best (OH), Cassandra J. Braford (MN), Mark E. Buchholz (SD), Richard E. Buthy (NJ), George E. Carle (CO), Jamey S. Carney (IA), Bryan D. Carpenter (NC), Michael G. Cary (MN), John G. Castilaw (MS), Dominick Cicala (NJ), Scott E. Clevelan (KY), Adam C. Cochran (GA), Michael R. Cummings (VA), David L. Dalheim (NY), Brian Dick (MD), Timothy B. Duelke (ID), Cory A. Duncan (OR), Terrence J. Dunne (NJ), David L. Eklund (IL), Yoshitsugu Endo (NY), Barry K. Foster (TX), Robert Fugate (OH), John A. Georg (IA), Francis J. Gernatt, Jr. (NY), Mark A. Haines (WV), Ivan G. Hanford (OR), James L. Harman, III (VA), James R. Hoyle (TX), George E. Huften (CT), John M. Ippolito (NY), Allan L. Jameson (NE), Erik D. Kemmer (MN), Mark L. Knobel, Sr. (MD), Joseph E. Knox, Sr., Erik M. Lane (NY), Jacob C. Liebl (ND), Galen H. Martin (PA), James D. Martin (IN), John M. McCabe (IL), Kevin F. McGlade (PA), Brett J. Mellor (ID), Kenneth M. Merritt (CA), Douglas D. Milligan (WA), Charles E. Morgan (LA), Richard D. Neal (TN), Gary Anthony Alfred H. Nelson (FL), Robert E. Perdue (WA), Christie M. Rose (TX), John E. Sautkulis (NY), Kevin D. Schlichting (PA), Ronnie L. Schronce (NC), Richard A. Sharpe (MN), William F. Smith (DE), Richard W. Stultz (IN), Robin W. Swasey (UT), Michelle P. Thibeault (ME), Michael L. Thrasher (AL), Melinda K. Topel (MO), Steven R. Vance (TX), William D. VanReese (MN), Ellis J. Vest, Jr. (WV), Herbert E. Wachtel (MN), Kendall G. Webster (OR), Christopher J. Wilson (PA), Mark P. Zimmerman (NV).

In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315 each exemption is 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: April 3, 2015.

Larry W. Minor,

Associate Administrator for Policy.

[FR Doc. 2015-08413 Filed 4-10-15; 8:45 am]

 BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P