Document ID: FMCSA-2015-0329-0025
Agency: fmcsa
Document Type: Notice
Title: Exemption Application: Qualification of Drivers; Hearing
Posted Date: 2022-12-20T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 243 (Tuesday, December 20, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77914-77915]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-27540]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2015-0329; FMCSA-2016-0002; FMCSA-2017-0058; FMCSA-
2017-0059; FMCSA-2017-0061; FMCSA-2018-0135; FMCSA-2018-0138; FMCSA-
2020-0027]

Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Hearing

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

ACTION: Notice of final disposition.

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SUMMARY: FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for 23 
individuals from the hearing requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier 
Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) for interstate commercial motor vehicle 
(CMV) drivers. The exemptions enable these hard of hearing and deaf 
individuals to continue to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

DATES: Each group of renewed exemptions were applicable on the dates 
stated in the discussions below and will expire on the dates provided 
below.

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, 
[email protected]. 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. Viewing Comments

    To view comments go to www.regulations.gov. Insert the docket 
number (FMCSA-2015-0329, FMCSA-2016-0002, FMCSA-2017-0058, FMCSA-2017-
0059, FMCSA-2017-0061, FMCSA-2018-0135, FMCSA-2018-0138, or FMCSA-2020-
0027) in the keyword box and click ``Search.'' Next, sort the results 
by ``Posted (Newer-Older),'' choose the first 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 in Room W12-140 
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.

B. 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 (FDMS)), 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.
Background
    On November 1, 2022, FMCSA published a notice announcing its 
decision to renew exemptions for 23 individuals from the hearing 
standard in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(11) to operate a CMV in interstate 
commerce and requested comments from the public (87 FR 65849). The 
public comment period ended on December 1, 2022, and no comments were 
received.
    FMCSA has evaluated the eligibility of these applicants and 
determined that renewing these exemptions would likely achieve a level 
of safety equivalent to, or greater than, the level that would be 
achieved by complying with Sec.  391.41(b)(11).
    The physical qualification standard for drivers regarding hearing 
found in Sec.  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).

II. Discussion of Comments

    FMCSA received no comments in this proceeding.

III. Conclusion

    Based upon its evaluation of the 23 renewal exemption applications, 
FMCSA announces its decision to exempt the following drivers from the 
hearing requirement in

Sec.  391.41  (b)(11).

    In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315(b), the following 
groups of drivers received renewed exemptions in the month of October 
and are discussed below:
    As of October 13, 2022, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) 
and 31315(b), the following 14 individuals have satisfied the renewal 
conditions for obtaining an exemption from the hearing requirement in 
the FMCSRs for interstate CMV drivers (87 FR 65849):

Matthew Albrecht (PA)

Cory Adkins (FL)

Richard Blaine (PA)

Jacquelyn Hetherington (OK)

Agustin Hernandez (TX)

Andrew Hippler (ID)

Scott Lufkin (NC)

Paul Mansfield (KS)

Berenice Martinez (TX)

Jose Ramirez (IL)

Thomas Sneer (MN)

[[Page 77915]]

Daniel Stroud (UT)

Michael Sweet (GA)

Jason Wynne (TX)

    The drivers were included in docket number FMCSA-2015-0329, FMCSA-
2016-0002, FMCSA-2017-0058, FMCSA-2017-0059, FMCSA-2017-0061, FMCSA-
2018-0135, and FMCSA-2018-0138. Their exemptions were applicable as of 
October 13, 2022 and will expire on October 13, 2024.
    As of October 30, 2022, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) 
and 31315(b), the following nine individuals have satisfied the renewal 
conditions for obtaining an exemption from the hearing requirement in 
the FMCSRs for interstate CMV drivers (87 FR 65849):

Adrian Almanza (IL)

Jimmy Benavides (TX)

James Bryan (AR)

William Heath (NC)

Kenneth Morrison (NY)

Darren Norton (MO)

Marty Posey (IN)

Anthony Vasquez (TX)

Daniel Zeolla (PA)

    The drivers were included in docket number FMCSA-2020-0027. Their 
exemptions were applicable as of October 30, 2022 and will expire on 
October 30, 2024.
    In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31315(b), each exemption will be valid 
for 2 years from the effective date 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 
prior to being granted; or (3) continuation of the exemption would not 
be consistent with the goals and objectives of 49 U.S.C. 31136, 49 
U.S.C. chapter 313, or the FMCSRs.

Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2022-27540 Filed 12-19-22; 8:45 am]
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