Document ID: FMCSA-2022-0111-0034
Agency: fmcsa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Qualification of Drivers: Medical Examiner's Handbook and Medical Advisory Criteria Proposed Regulatory Guidance
Posted Date: 2022-09-14T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 177 (Wednesday, September 14, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 56372-56373]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-19847]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

49 CFR Part 391

[Docket No. FMCSA-2022-0111]

Qualifications of Drivers: Medical Examiner's Handbook and 
Medical Advisory Criteria Proposed Regulatory Guidance

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

ACTION: Notice of proposed regulatory guidance; extension of comment 
period.

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SUMMARY: FMCSA extends the comment period for its August 16, 2022, 
notice of proposed regulatory guidance relating to the draft Medical 
Examiner's Handbook (MEH), which includes updates to the Medical 
Advisory Criteria published in the United States Code of Federal 
Regulations. FMCSA received requests for an extension to the comment 
period from the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association and two 
individuals. The Agency finds it is appropriate to extend the comment 
period to provide interested parties additional time to submit their 
responses to the notice. Therefore, the Agency extends the deadline for 
the submission of comments to October 31, 2022.

DATES: The comment period for the notice published August 16, 2022, at 
87 FR 50282, is extended to October 31, 2022.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by the Federal Docket 
Management System Docket No. FMCSA-2022-0111 using any of the following 
methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov/, 
insert the docket number, FMCSA-2022-0035, in the keyword box, and 
click ``Search.'' Next, sort the results by ``Posted (Newer-Older),'' 
choose the first 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, 
Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery: West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 
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, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, 
Washington, DC 20590, (202) 366-4001, [email protected]. If you have 
questions on viewing or submitting material to the docket, call Dockets 
Operations at (202) 366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Public Participation and Request for Comments

A. Submitting Comments

    If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this 
notice (FMCSA-2022-0111), indicate the specific page and section of the 
MEH to which your 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 FMCSA can contact you if there are questions regarding your 
submission.
    To submit your comment online, go to https://www.regulations.gov/docket/FMCSA-2022-0111/document, click on this request for comments, 
click ``Comment,'' and type your comment into the text box on the 
following screen.
    If you submit your comments by mail or hand delivery, submit them 
in an unbound format, no larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, suitable for 
copying and electronic filing. If you submit comments by mail and would 
like to know that they reached the facility, please enclose a stamped, 
self-addressed postcard or envelope.
    FMCSA will consider all comments and material received during the 
comment period.

B. Viewing Comments and Documents

    To view any documents mentioned as being available in the docket, 
go to https://www.regulations.gov/docket/FMCSA-2022-0111/document and 
choose the document to review. To view comments, click this request for 
comments, 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

[[Page 56373]]

Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590-0001, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
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

    DOT solicits comments from the public to better inform its guidance 
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, the comments are searchable by the 
name of the submitter.

II. Background

    The Federal Register notice published on August 16, 2022 (87 FR 
50282) requested comments on FMCSA's proposed MEH. The MEH includes 
updates to the published Medical Advisory Criteria and proposed 
regulatory guidance. The Federal Register notice provided a 45-day 
comment period, which ends September 30, 2022.
    FMCSA received a request from the Owner-Operator Independent 
Drivers Association to extend the comment period for an additional 60 
days. A former truck driver (Bob Stanton) requested 180 days from 
publication of the notice to submit comments. Another individual 
(Daniel Spaulding) suggested that a longer period was necessary to 
understand the draft MEH. In summary they both stated that the draft 
MEH is 122 pages long with highly detailed and technical information, 
and that additional time is needed to thoroughly review the updated MEH 
and to develop meaningful feedback. Copies of the requests are 
available in the docket for this notice.
    In consideration of these requests and to allow additional time to 
review and submit comments, FMCSA extends the deadline for submitting 
comments in response to the August 16, 2022 (87 FR 50282) Federal 
Register publication until October 31, 2022.

John Van Steenburg,
Executive Director and Chief Safety Officer.
[FR Doc. 2022-19847 Filed 9-13-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P