Document Headings

                    Document headings vary by document type but may contain                    the following:                  
                -                       the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document                    
                -                       the number of the CFR title and the number of each part                      the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly                      related to                    
                -                       the agency docket number / agency internal file number                    
                -                       the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in                      the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory                      Actions                    

                    See the                                          Document Drafting Handbook                                        for more details.                  

###### Department of Transportation

###### Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration 

          - [Docket Nos. FMCSA-99-5578, FMCSA-99-6480, FMCSA-2000-7363, FMCSA-2001-9258, FMCSA-2001-9561, FMCSA-2002-12884, FMCSA-2003-14223, FMCSA-2003-15892] 

# AGENCY:

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT. 

# ACTION:

Notice of renewal of exemption; request for comments. 

# SUMMARY:

This notice publishes FMCSA's decision to renew the exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 30 individuals. FMCSA has statutory authority to exempt individuals from vision standards if the exemptions granted will not compromise safety. The agency has concluded that granting the renewal of these exemptions will continue to provide a level of safety that will be equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety maintained without the exemptions for these commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. 

# DATES:

This decision is effective October 30, 2005. Comments from interested persons should be submitted by November 21, 2005. 

# ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments identified by DOT DMS Docket Numbers FMCSA-99-5578, FMCSA-99-6480, FMCSA-2000-7363, FMCSA-2001-9258, FMCSA-2001-9561, FMCSA-2002-12884, FMCSA-2003-14223, FMCSA-2003-15892 by any of the following methods: 
      - Web Site: http://dms.dot.gov.                          Follow the instructions for submitting comments on the DOT electronic docket site.                     
      - Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
      - Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
      - Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays.

*Instructions:*                         All submissions must include the agency name and docket numbers for this notice. For detailed instructions on submitting comments and additional information on the rulemaking process, see the Public Participation heading of the Supplementary Information section of this document. Note that all comments received will be posted without change to                         *http://dms.dot.gov,*                         including any personal information provided. Please see the Privacy Act heading under Regulatory Notices.                     

*Docket:*                         For access to the docket to read background documents or comments received, go to                         *http://dms.dot.gov*                         at any time or to Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5                               ( print page 61166)                            p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays.                     

# FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Dr. Mary D. Gunnels, Office of Bus and Truck Standards and Operations, (202) 366-4001, FMCSA, Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001. Office hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. 

# SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

*Public Participation:*                     The DMS is available 24 hours each day, 365 days each year. You can get electronic submission and retrieval help guidelines under the “help” section of the DMS Web site. If you want us to notify you that we received your comments, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope or postcard or print the acknowledgement page that appears after submitting comments on-line.                 

*Privacy Act:*                     Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all comments received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review the Department of Transportation's complete Privacy Act Statement in the                     **Federal Register**                     published on April 11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70; Pages 19477-78) or you may visit                     *http://dms.dot.gov.*

## Exemption Decision 

Under 49 U.S.C. 31315 and 31136(e), FMCSA may renew an exemption from the vision requirements in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10), which applies to drivers of CMVs in interstate commerce, for a two-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 procedures for requesting an exemption (including renewals) are set out in 49 CFR part 381. This notice addresses 30 individuals who have requested renewal of their exemptions in a timely manner. FMCSA has evaluated these 30 applications for renewal on their merits and decided to extend each exemption for a renewable two-year period. They are: 

Thomas E. Adams 

Lauren C. Allen 

Tracey A. Ammons 

Stanley E. Bernard 

Randy B. Combs 

William J. Corder 

Robert L. Cross, Jr. 

James D. Davis 

William P. Davis 

John C. Gadomski 

Edward J. Genovese

Dewayne E. Harms

James W. Harris

Mark D. Kraft

David F. LeClerc

Charles L. Lovern

Jimmy R. Millage

Keith G. Reichel

Carson E. Rohrbaugh

Robert E. Sanders

Earl W. Sheets 

James T. Simmons 

Donald J. Snider

John A. Sortman

Jesse L. Townsend 

Thomas D. Walden

James A. Welch

John M. Whetham 

Edward W. Yeates, Jr. 

Michael E. Yount

These exemptions are renewed subject to the following conditions: (1) That each individual have a physical examination every year (a) by an ophthalmologist or optometrist who attests that the vision in the better eye continues to meet the standard in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10), and (b) by a medical examiner who attests that the individual is otherwise physically qualified under 49 CFR 391.41; (2) 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 (3) that each individual provide a copy of the annual medical certification to the employer for retention in the driver's qualification file and retain a copy of the certification on his/her person while driving for presentation to a duly authorized Federal, State, or local enforcement official. Each exemption will be valid for two years unless rescinded earlier by FMCSA. 

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. 31315 and 31136(e). 

## Basis for Renewing Exemptions 

Under 49 U.S.C. 31315(b)(1), an exemption may be granted for no longer than two years from its approval date and may be renewed upon application for additional two year periods. In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31315 and 31136(e), each of the 30 applicants has satisfied the eligibility requirements for obtaining an exemption from the vision standard (64 FR 27027; 64 FR 51568; 66 FR 48504; 68 FR 54775; 64 FR 68195; 65 FR 20251; 67 FR 17102; 65 FR 45817; 65 FR 77066; 68 FR 1654; 66 FR 17743; 66 FR 33990; 66 FR 30502; 66 FR 41654; 67 FR 68719; 68 FR 2629; 68 FR 10301; 68 FR 19596; 68 FR 52811; 68 FR 61860). Each of these 30 applicants has requested timely renewal of the exemption and has submitted evidence showing that the vision in the better eye continues to meet the standard specified at 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10) and that the vision impairment is stable. In addition, a review of each record of safety while driving with the respective vision deficiencies over the past two years indicates each applicant continues to meet the vision exemption standards. These factors provide an adequate basis for predicting each driver's ability to continue to drive safely in interstate commerce. Therefore, FMCSA concludes that extending the exemption for each renewal applicant for a period of two years is likely to achieve a level of safety equal to that existing without the exemption. 

## Comments 

FMCSA will review comments received at any time concerning a particular driver's safety record and determine if the continuation of the exemption is consistent with the requirements at 49 U.S.C. 31315 and 31136(e). However, FMCSA requests that interested parties with specific data concerning the safety records of these drivers submit comments by November 21, 2005. 

In the past FMCSA has received comments from Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates) expressing continued opposition to FMCSA's procedures for renewing exemptions from the vision requirement in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10). Specifically, Advocates objects to the agency's extension of the exemptions without any opportunity for public comment prior to the decision to renew, and reliance on a summary statement of evidence to make its decision to extend the exemption of each driver. 

The issues raised by Advocates were addressed at length in 69 FR 51346 (August 18, 2004). FMCSA continues to find its exemption process consistent with the statutory and regulatory requirements. 

Issued on: October 14, 2005. 

Rose A. McMurray, 

Associate Administrator, Policy and Program Development. 

[FR Doc. 05-21006 Filed 10-19-05; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P