30502 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 109 / Wednesday, June 6, 2001 / Notices

basis for these responsibilities and

decisions.

The quarterly report and inspection

data are collected electronically. States

continue to submit the CVSP in hard

copy. The estimated annual burden for

this collection has been significantly

reduced due to increased use of

information technology.

The FMCSA published the required

notice offering a 60-day comment period

on the ICR on November 1, 2000 (65 FR

65372). We received two comments,

which are addressed in the supporting

statement the agency submitted to OMB.

Requests for information on the

supporting statement should be directed

to the Information Contact provided in

this Notice.

Respondents: State and local MCSAP

lead agencies.

Estimated Total Annual Burden:

Grant application preparation: 848

hours; quarterly report preparation: 339

hours; inspection data upload: 7,333

hours. The above figures reflect 20

percent of the total estimated hours to

perform the activities listed since

MCSAP reimburses up to 80 percent of

the eligible costs incurred in the

administration of an approved plan as

set forth in 49 CFR 350.303, 350.309 and

350.311.

Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act

of 1995, 44 U.S.C. chapter 35, as amended;

and 49 CFR 1.73.

Issued on: May 31, 2001.

Stephen E. Barber,

Acting Deputy Administrator.

[FR Doc. 01–14238 Filed 6–5–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety

Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA–2001–9561]

Qualification of Drivers; Exemption

Applications; Vision

AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety

Administration (FMCSA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of applications for

exemption from the vision standard;

request for comments.

SUMMARY: This notice announces the

FMCSA’s receipt of applications from

22 individuals for an exemption from

the vision requirements in the Federal

Motor Carrier Safety Regulations

(FMCSRs). If granted, the exemptions

will enable these individuals to qualify

as drivers of commercial motor vehicles

(CMVs) in interstate commerce without

meeting the vision standard prescribed

in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10).

DATES: Comments must be received on

or before July 6, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Mail or hand deliver

comments to the U.S. Department of

Transportation, Dockets Management

Facility, Room PL–401, 400 Seventh

Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590, or

submit electronically at http://

dmses.dot.gov/submit. All comments

received will be available for

examination and copying at the above

address from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., e.t.,

Monday through Friday, except Federal

holidays. Those desiring notification of

receipt of comments must include a selfaddressed, stamped postcard or you

may print the acknowledgment page

that appears after submitting comments

electronically.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For

information about the vision

exemptions in this notice, Ms. Sandra

Zywokarte, Office of Bus and Truck

Standards and Operations, (202) 366–

2987; for information about legal issues

related to this notice, Ms. Elaine Walls,

Office of the Chief Counsel, (202) 366–

1394, FMCSA, Department of

Transportation, 400 Seventh Street,

SW., Washington, DC 20590. Office

hours are from 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.,

e.t., Monday through Friday, except

Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Electronic Access and Filing

You may see all the comments online

through the Document Management

System (DMS) at: http://dmses.dot.gov/

submit.

Background

Twenty-two individuals have

requested an exemption from the vision

requirement in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10),

which applies to drivers of CMVs in

interstate commerce. Under 49 U.S.C.

31315 and 31136(e), the FMCSA may

grant an exemption for a renewable 2-

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.’’ Accordingly, the

agency will evaluate the qualifications

of each applicant to determine whether

granting the exemptions will achieve

the required level of safety.

Qualifications of Applicants

1. Roger D. Anderson

Mr. Anderson, 62, has amblyopia in

his right eye. He has visual acuities of

finger counting with his right eye, and

20/20 with his left eye. As the result of

an examination in 2000, his optometrist

concluded, ‘‘Mr. Anderson has been

driving like this all of his life and I

believe he has sufficient vision to

perform the driving tasks required to

operate a commercial vehicle.’’ Mr.

Anderson reported that he has 45 years

and 450,000 miles of experience

operating straight trucks; 10 years and

200,000 miles of experience operating

tractor-trailer combinations; and 2 years

and 18,000 miles of experience

operating buses. He holds a Class A CDL

from Kansas, and there are no accidents

and one conviction for a moving

violation—Speeding—in a CMV on his

driving record for the last 3 years. He

exceeded the speed limit by 13 mph.

2. Joey E. Buice

Mr. Buice, age 30, has a prosthetic

right eye due to an injury in 1981. He

has uncorrected visual acuity of 20/10

in the left eye. Following an

examination in 2001, his

ophthalmologist stated, ‘‘In my

professional opinion his vision is stable

and he is capable of driving a

commercial vehicle, such as a tractortrailer without difficulty or risk.’’ Mr.

Buice reported that he has driven

straight trucks for 6 years and has

accumulated 60,000 miles. He holds a

Class B CDL from Georgia, and his

driving record for the last 3 years shows

no accidents or convictions for moving

violations in a CMV.

3. Ronald D. Danberry

Mr. Danberry, 43, has exotropia and

amblyopia of the right eye. His corrected

and uncorrected visual acuity is 20/60

in the right eye and 20/20 in the left eye.

An optometrist who examined him in

2001 stated, ‘‘I certify, in my medical

opinion, that Ronald has more than

sufficient vision to operate a

commercial vehicle safely.’’ According

to Mr. Danberry’s application, he has

31⁄2 years of experience driving straight

trucks, totaling 52,000 miles; and 31⁄2

years of experience driving tractortrailers, totaling 122,000 miles. He holds

a Minnesota Class A CDL and has had

no accidents or moving violations in a

CMV for the past 3 years.

4. Paul W. Dawson

Mr. Dawson, 51, has amblyopia in his

left eye, which causes 20/200 bestcorrected visual acuity in that eye. In

his right eye, his best-corrected visual

acuity is 20/20. His optometrist

examined him in 2001 and stated, ‘‘Our

opinion is that Paul has sufficient vision

to perform the driving tasks required to

operate a commercial vehicle. Indeed he

has safely done so for over 20 years!’’

Mr. Dawson submitted that he has

driven 1.9 million miles in tractortrailer combination vehicles over 20

years. He holds a Class A CDL from

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 109 / Wednesday, June 6, 2001 / Notices 30503

Colorado. His driving record shows no

accidents and one conviction for a

moving violation—Stopping on

Highway—in a CMV for the last 3 years.

5. Lois E. DeSouza

Ms. DeSouza, 63, has had decreased

vision in her right eye since December,

1995, after attempted repair of a retinal

detachment with development of scar

tissue. Her visual acuities are light

perception in the right eye and 20/30+,

with correction, in the left eye. Her

ophthalmologist examined her in 2000

and stated, ‘‘Ms. DeSouza has been able

to perform her tasks in terms of driving

this commercial vehicle since her injury

to the right eye and I feel that she will

have sufficient vision to continue to

operate this vehicle safely.’’ Ms.

DeSouza reported that she has driven

tractor-trailer combinations for 20 years,

accumulating 1.2 million miles. She

holds a Class A CDL from Tennessee,

and she has no accidents or convictions

for moving violations in a CMV on her

driving record for the past three years.

6. Richard L. Gandee

Mr. Gandee, 44, has had central

serous retinopathy in his left eye since

April 1997. His visual acuity is 20/20 in

the right eye and 20/50 in the left eye.

Following an examination in 2001, his

ophthalmologist certified, ‘‘In my

medical opinion, I feel he has sufficient

vision to perform the driving tasks

required to operate a commercial

vehicle.’’ Mr. Gandee reported he has

driven tractor-trailer combinations for

15 years, accumulating 975,000 miles,

and straight trucks for 5 years,

accumulating 650,000 miles. He holds a

Class A CDL from Ohio. His driving

record for the last 3 years shows he has

had one accident and no convictions for

moving violations in a CMV. According

to the police report for the accident, the

driver of another vehicle coming toward

him crossed the center line and struck

the vehicle Mr. Gandee was driving. The

other driver was charged with ‘‘Failure

to Control.’’

7. Steven A. Garrity

Mr. Garrity, 38, has a visual acuity in

the right eye of 20/20 and in the left eye

hand motion due to a retinal

detachment in 1978. Mr. Garrity was

examined in 2000 and his optometrist

stated, ‘‘It is my opinion that Steve has

sufficient vision to operate a

commercial vehicle due to the fact that

he is 20/20 in the right eye and his

peripheral vision is very good.’’ Mr.

Garrity submitted that he has driven

straight trucks for 20 years,

accumulating 300,000 miles, and

tractor-trailer combinations for 18 years,

accumulating 270,000 miles. He holds a

Massachusetts Class AM CDL, and his

driving record for the last 3 years

contains no accidents or convictions for

moving violations in a CMV.

8. Chester L. Gray

Mr. Gray, 28, has amblyopia in his left

eye. His best-corrected visual acuity is

20/15 in the right eye and 20/50 in the

left eye. As a result of a 2001

examination, his optometrist affirmed,

‘‘In my opinion, his vision is good

enough to permit him to safely operate

a commercial motor vehicle.’’ Mr. Gray

reported that he has driven tractortrailer combination vehicles and straight

trucks for 9 years, accumulating 360,000

miles in the former and 45,000 miles in

the latter. He holds a Class A CDL from

Texas, and his driving record for the last

3 years shows no accidents or

convictions for moving violations in a

CMV.

9. Waylon E. Hall

Mr. Hall, 33, has amblyopia in his left

eye. He sees 20/300 not correctable with

his left eye and 20/20 corrected with his

right eye. An optometrist examined him

in 2001 and stated, ‘‘I feel Mr. Hall

would be capable of performing all

driving tasks associated with the

operation of a commercial vehicle.’’ Mr.

Hall reported he has driven tractortrailer combinations 3 years,

accumulating 405,000 miles. He holds a

Louisiana Class E regular license

currently, but held a Class A CDL for the

3-year period prior to his date of

application. He has had no CMV

accidents or convictions for moving

violations for the past 3 years, according

to his driving record.

10. Jeffery M. Kimsey

Mr. Kimsey, 34, has a loss of central

vision in his right eye due to an injury

in 1986. His visual acuity in the right

eye is finger counting at 3 feet, and in

the left eye, 20/20, best-corrected. An

optometrist examined him in 2001 and

stated, ‘‘It is my opinion that this

patient has sufficient vision to operate

a commercial vehicle.’’ According to

Mr. Kimsey’s application, he has driven

192,000 miles in tractor-trailer

combination vehicles over 16 years. He

holds a Class A CDL from Georgia. In

the last 3 years he has had no accidents

and one conviction for a moving

violation—Speeding—in a CMV on his

driving record. He exceeded the speed

limit by 13 mph.

11. Gerald L. Phelps

Mr. Phelps, 53, is blind in his right

eye due to an injury at 4 years of of age.

His visual acuity is 20/20-in the left eye.

His optometrist examined him in 2001

and certified, ‘‘In my medical opinion,

Gerald is a safe driver and has sufficient

vision to perform tasks required of a

truck driver in a commercial

environment.’’ In his application, Mr.

Phelps reported that he has driven

tractor-trailer combinations for 35 years,

accumulating 1.4 million miles. He

holds a Pennsylvania Class AM CDL,

and there are no accidents or

convictions for moving violations in a

CMV on his driving record for the last

3 years.

12. Doyle E. Ramsey

Mr. Ramsey, 58, has amblyopia in his

left eye. His corrected visual acuity in

the right eye is 20/20, and in the left

eye, 20/60-1. An optometrist examined

him in 2001 and affirmed, ‘‘In my

medical/optical opinion I feel Mr.

Ramsey has sufficient vision to perform

the driving tasks required to operate a

commercial vehicle.’’ Mr. Ramsey stated

he has driven straight trucks for 12

years, accumulating 624,000 miles. He

holds an Indiana chauffeur’s license,

and his official driving record for the

last 3 years shows no accidents and no

convictions for moving violations in a

CMV.

13. Michael J. Risch

Mr. Risch, 49, has an amblyopic right

eye, which has only counting finger

vision. His left eye has vision of 20/20-

2. Following an examination in 2000,

his opthalmologist certified, ‘‘After

examination, it is my medical opinion

that Mr. Risch has sufficient vision to

perform the driving tasks required to

operate a commercial vehicle.’’

According to his application, Mr. Risch

has operated tractor-trailer

combinations for 25 years and 2.7

million miles. He holds a Class ABCD

CDL from Wisconsin, and his driving

record for the last 3 years shows no

accidents or convictions for moving

violations in a CMV.

14. Tim M. Seavy

Mr. Seavy, 32, has amblyopia in his

right eye. His best-corrected visual

acuity is 20/200 in the right eye and 20/

20 in the left eye. His ophthalmologist

examined him in 2000 and affirmed,

‘‘Visual deficiency is stable and visual

fields are over 120 degrees. I feel that

the vision is sufficient for driving tasks

required for operating a commercial

vehicle.’’ Mr. Seavy stated he has driven

tractor-trailer combination vehicles for 4

years, accumulating 561,000 miles, and

straight trucks for 7 years, accumulating

728,000 miles. He holds an Indiana

Class A CDL, and he has no accidents

30504 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 109 / Wednesday, June 6, 2001 / Notices

or convictions for moving violations on

his driving record for the last 3 years.

15. Kim L. Seibel

Mr. Seibel, 49, has amblyopia in his

left eye. He has best-corrected visual

acuity of 20/20 in the right eye and 20/

100+ in the left eye. As a result of an

examination in 2001, his optometrist

stated, ‘‘In my opinion Kim has

sufficient vision to perform the driving

task required to operate a commercial

vehicle.’’ According to Mr. Seibel’s

application, he has driven tractor-trailer

combinations for 25 years, accumulating

2.5 million miles. He holds a Class A

CDL from South Dakota, and his driving

record shows no accidents or

convictions for moving violations in a

CMV during the last 3 years.

16. Edd J. Stabler

Mr. Stabler, 53, is aphakic in the left

eye due to an eye injury in 1961. His

right eye corrects to 20/20 and the left

eye perceives hand motion only. His

optometrist examined him in 2000 and

certified, ‘‘Mr. Stabler has sufficient

vision to perform driving tasks required

to operate a commercial vehicle.’’ Mr.

Stabler reported he has driven tractortrailer combinations for 13 years,

accumulating 1.2 million miles, and

straight trucks for 9 years, accumulating

702,000 miles. He holds an Alabama

Class AM CDL, and in the last 3 years,

he has had no accidents or convictions

for moving violations in a CMV.

17. Randy D. Stanley

Mr. Stanley, 43, has amblyopia in his

left eye. His vision in the right eye is 20/

20 and in the left eye 20/80, bestcorrected. Following a 2001

examination, his optometrist stated, ‘‘It

is my medical opinion that Mr. Stanley

has sufficient vision to perform the

driving tasks required to operate a

commercial vehicle.’’ In his application,

Mr. Stanley reported that he has driven

tractor-trailer combinations and straight

trucks for 21 years, accumulating

420,000 miles in the former and 10,000

miles in the latter. He holds a North

Carolina Class A CDL, and has had no

accidents or convictions for moving

violations in a CMV for the past 3 years,

according to his driving record.

18. Lee T. Taylor

Mr. Taylor, 42, has worn a prosthetic

right eye for 35 years, due to an injury.

Visual acuity in his left eye is 20/20

with correction. His ophthalmologist

examined him in 2000 and stated, ‘‘My

medical opinion based on

ophthalmologic findings is that Mr.

Taylor should be permitted to operate

commercial motor vehicles.’’ Mr. Taylor

submitted that he has driven tractortrailer combinations for 7 years,

traveling 766,000 miles, and straight

trucks for 6 years, traveling 262,000

miles. He holds a Class A license from

Florida, and his driving record for the

last 3 years shows no accidents and one

conviction for a moving violation—

Unlawful Speed—in a CMV. He

exceeded the speed limit by 9 mph.

19. James Melvin Tayman, Sr.

Mr. Tayman, 63, sustained an injury

to the left eye approximately 40 years

ago and has been blind in that eye ever

since. His right eye has visual acuity of

20/20, with correction. Following an

examination in 2001, his

ophthalmologist stated, ‘‘In addition to

his excellent visual function in the right

eye, Mr. Tayman has a record of driving

400 miles per day professionally, since

1963, with no accidents. He is fully able

to operate a commercial vehicle, and is

likely a safer driver than most who pass

through your office.’’ Mr. Tayman

submitted that he has driven tractortrailer combination vehicles for 23 years

accumulating 1.8 million miles, and

straight trucks for 19 years accumulating

1.5 million miles. He holds a Class A

CDL from Maryland, and his driving

record shows no accidents or

convictions for moving violations in a

CMV during the last 3 years.

20. Wesley E. Turner

Mr. Turner, 41, has an aphakic,

amblyopic left eye due to trauma at age

6. His vision in the right eye is 20/20

without correction, and in the left eye

20/800 not correctable. He was

examined in 2001 and his

ophthalmologist stated, ‘‘Since his

vision is stable, visual field is normal

and Mr. Turner has driven

professionally in the past, I see no

reason he could not operate a

commercial vehicle now.’’ In his

application, Mr. Turner reported that he

has driven tractor-trailer combinations

for 18 years, accumulating 1.3 million

miles, and straight trucks for 2 years,

accumulating 50,000 miles. He holds a

Texas Class A CDL, and has no

accidents or convictions for moving

violations in a CMV on his driving

record for the past 3 years.

21. Edward W. Yeates, Jr.

Mr. Yeates, 33, has amblyopia in the

right eye. His best vision with correction

is 20/80 in the right eye and 20/20 in

the left eye. Following an examination

in 2000, his ophthalmologist certified,

‘‘Since this condition has been present

for the patient’s entire life he should

have no difficulty judging distance and

his peripheral vision is entirely normal.

I feel that he can safely operate a

commercial vehicle.’’ Mr. Yeates

submitted that he has driven tractortrailer combinations and straight trucks

for 9 years, accumulating 720,000 miles

in the former and 288,000 miles in the

latter. He holds a Mississippi Class A

CDL, and his driving record for the last

3 years shows no accidents and no

convictions for moving violations in a

CMV.

22. John C. Young

Mr. Young, 44, has amblyopia in the

right eye. His visual acuity is 20/60 in

the right eye and 20/15 in the left eye.

Following a 2000 examination, his

ophthalmologist noted, ‘‘In my opinion,

Mr. Young has sufficient vision to

perform the driving tasks required to

operate a commercial vehicle.’’

According to Mr. Young, he has

operated tractor-trailer combinations for

20 years, accumulating 1.5 million

miles. A holder of a Class AM CDL from

Virginia, he has had no accidents or

citations for moving violations in a CMV

for the last 3 years.

Request for Comments

In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31315

and 31136(e), the FMCSA is requesting

public comment from all interested

persons on the exemption petitions and

the matters discussed in this notice. All

comments received before the close of

business on the closing date indicated

above will be considered and will be

available for examination in the docket

room at the above address. Comments

received after the closing date will be

filed in the docket and will be

considered to the extent practicable, but

the FMCSA may publish in the Federal

Register a notice of final determination

at any time after the close of the

comment period. In addition to late

comments, the FMCSA will also

continue to file in the docket relevant

information which becomes available

after the closing date. Interested persons

should continue to examine the docket

for new material.

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 322, 31136 and 31315;

and 49 CFR 1.73.

Issued on: May 31, 2001.

Stephen E. Barber,

Acting Deputy Administrator.

[FR Doc. 01–14239 Filed 6–5–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P