105682 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 248 / Friday, December 27, 2024 / Notices 

Andrew Speights 

Andrew Speights is a 25-year-old 

class R license holder in Mississippi. 

They have a history of seizure disorder 

and have been seizure free since 

October 2016. They take anti-seizure 

medication with the dosage and 

frequency remaining the same since 

October 2016. Their physician states 

that they are supportive of Andrew 

Speights receiving an exemption. 

Vic Sprenkle 

Vic Sprenkle is a 59-year-old class 

AM CDL holder in Pennsylvania. They 

have a history of single partial complex 

seizure and have been seizure free since 

August 3, 2009. They take anti-seizure 

medication with the dosage and 

frequency remaining the same since 

2009. Their physician states that they 

are supportive of Vic Sprenkle receiving 

an exemption. 

Todd Weston 

Todd Weston is a 48-year-old class 

AM1 CDL holder in California. They 

have a history of seizure disorder and 

have been seizure free since 2010. They 

take anti-seizure medication with the 

dosage and frequency remaining the 

same since October 2017. Their 

physician states that they are supportive 

of Todd Weston receiving an exemption. 

Vernon Wingate 

Vernon Wingate is a 34-year-old class 

C license holder in Maryland. They 

have a history of seizure disorder and 

have been seizure free since June 2016. 

They take anti-seizure medication with 

the dosage and frequency remaining the 

same since March 4, 2020. Their 

physician states that they are supportive 

of Vernon Wingate receiving an 

exemption. 

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. 2024–30884 Filed 12–26–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Motor Carrier Safety 

Administration 

[Docket No. FMCSA–2024–0277] 

Qualification of Drivers; Exemption 

Applications; Hearing 

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 10 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 January 27, 2025. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments 

identified by the Federal Docket 

Management System Docket No. 

FMCSA–2024–0277 using any of the 

following methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

www.regulations.gov/, insert the docket 

number (FMCSA–2024–0277) 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–2024–0277), 

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-2024-0277. 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 81⁄2 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–2024–0277) 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 


khammond on DSK9W7S144PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 248 / Friday, December 27, 2024 / Notices 105683 

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 

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 10 individuals listed in this 

notice have requested an exemption 

from the hearing requirement in 49 CFR 

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 

James Armstrong 

James Armstrong, 37, holds a class D 

driver’s license in Tennessee. 

Bethany Barrett 

Bethany Barrett, 32, holds a class D 

driver’s license in Wisconsin. 

Kevin Lopez Morales 

Kevin Lopez Morales, 29, holds a 

class D driver’s license in North Dakota. 

Socorro Melendez 

Socorro Melendez, 32, holds a class C 

driver’s license in Texas. 

Robert Piacente 

Robert Piacente, 69, holds a class A 

commercial driver’s license (CDL) in 

Louisiana. 

Dalton Rosch 

Dalton Rosch, 27, holds a class C 

driver’s license in Iowa. 

Ferfran Sanchez Molina 

Ferfran Sanchez Molina, 30, holds a 

class D driver’s license in New Jersey. 

Jonathan Santiago 

Jonathan Santiago, 40, holds a class E 

driver’s license in Florida. 

John Shepard 

John Shepard, 76, holds a class B CDL 

in Connecticut. 

Andrew Weaver 

Andrew Weaver, 32, holds a class D 

driver’s license in Virginia. 

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. 2024–30896 Filed 12–26–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Railroad Administration 

[Docket Number FRA–2014–0048] 

Petition for Extension of Waiver of 

Compliance 

Under part 211 of title 49 Code of 

Federal Regulations (CFR), this 

document provides the public notice 

that on October 14, 2024, and December 

13, 2024, Union Pacific Railroad 

Company (UP) petitioned the Federal 

Railroad Administration (FRA) for an 

extension of a waiver of compliance 

from certain provisions of the Federal 

railroad safety regulations contained at 

49 CFR parts 215 (Railroad Freight Car 

Safety Standards), 229 (Railroad 

Locomotive Safety Standards), and 232 

(Brake System Safety Standards for 

Freight and Other Non-Passenger Trains 

and Equipment; End-of-Train Devices). 

The relevant Docket Number is FRA– 

2014–0048. 

Specifically, UP seeks an extension of 

relief from part 215, § 229.21, Daily 

inspection, and § 232.205(a)(1), Class I 

brake test—initial terminal inspection, 

to move freight cars received in 

interchange from Ferrocarriles 

Nacionales de Mexico at the 

International Yard on the Lordsburg 

Subdivision in El Paso, Texas, to Dallas 

Street Yard (for westbound traffic) or 

Alfalfa Yard (for eastbound traffic). The 

required inspections are conducted at 

these yards, which are 2.8 and 7 miles 

from the International Yard, 

respectively. In its petition, UP notes 

that the territory between International 

Yard and Dallas Street and Alfalfa Yards 

‘‘traverses through a residential area 

with multiple public grade crossings[,] 

which also handle heavy pedestrian 

traffic.’’ Additionally, UP requests to 

expand the relief in this docket to 

permit it to move trains to Santa Teresa, 

New Mexico, a distance of 20.5 miles. 

In support of its petition, UP states 

that the movement ‘‘expedit[es] any 

delays caused by port of entry 

inspections and allow[s] a more efficient 

use of the bridge window.’’ UP adds that 

completing inspections and testing of 

equipment at the Dallas and Alfalfa 

Yards is ‘‘safer/more secure than 

attempting it on the bridge precisely at 

the US border line,’’ as the 

infrastructure of the Dallas and Alfalfa 

facilities ‘‘supports inspections, and 

repair associated activities, including 

switching out bad orders, safer and 

better than other upstream properties.’’ 

Finally, UP notes that the relief avoids 

‘‘unnecessary public disruptions within 

the city of El Paso, [Texas], including, 

but not limited to, excessively blocked 

crossings’’ as well as ‘‘alleviates undue 

additional locomotive emissions from 

excessive idling times.’’ 

A copy of the petition, as well as any 

written communications concerning the 

petition, is available for review online at 

www.regulations.gov. 

Interested parties are invited to 

participate in these proceedings by 

submitting written views, data, or 

comments. FRA does not anticipate 


khammond on DSK9W7S144PROD with NOTICES