Document ID: FMCSA-2023-0031-0001
Agency: fmcsa
Document Type: Notice
Title: Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications: Epilepsy and Seizure Disorders
Posted Date: 2023-04-06T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 66 (Thursday, April 6, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20605-20606]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-07191]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2023-0031]

Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Epilepsy and 
Seizure Disorders

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

ACTION: Notice of denials.

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SUMMARY: FMCSA announces its decision to deny applications from 132 
individuals who requested an exemption from the Federal Motor Carrier 
Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) prohibiting persons with a clinical 
diagnosis of epilepsy or any other condition that is likely to cause a 
loss of consciousness or any loss of ability to operate a commercial 
motor vehicle (CMV) from operating CMVs in interstate commerce.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Christine A. Hydock, Chief, 
Medical Programs Division, FMCSA, Department of Transportation, 1200 
New Jersey Avenue SE, Room W64-224, Washington, DC 20590-0001, (202) 
366-4001, [email protected]. Office hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 5 
p.m. ET Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. If you have 
questions regarding viewing material in the docket, contact Dockets 
Operations, (202) 366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Public Participation

A. Comments

    To view comments go to www.regulations.gov. Insert the docket 
number (FMCSA-2023-0031) 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 request. 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), 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.

II. Background

    FMCSA received applications from 132 individuals who requested an 
exemption from the FMCSRs prohibiting persons with a clinical diagnosis 
of epilepsy or any other condition that is likely to cause a loss of 
consciousness or any loss of ability to operate a CMV from operating 
CMVs in interstate commerce.
    FMCSA has evaluated the eligibility of these applicants and 
concluded that granting these exemptions would not provide a level of 
safety that would be equivalent to, or greater than, the level of 
safety that would be obtained by complying with Sec.  391.41(b)(8).

III. Basis for Exemption Determination

    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 statute also allows 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 Agency's decision regarding these 
exemption applications is based on the eligibility criteria, the terms 
and conditions for Federal exemptions, and an individualized assessment 
of each applicant's medical information provided by the applicant.

IV. Conclusion

    The Agency has determined that these applicants do not satisfy the 
eligibility criteria or meet the terms and conditions of the Federal 
exemption and granting these exemptions would not provide a level of 
safety that would be equivalent to, or greater than, the level of 
safety that would be obtained by complying with Sec.  391.41(b)(8). 
Therefore, the 132 applicants in this notice have been denied 
exemptions from the physical qualification standards in Sec.  
391.41(b)(8).
    Each applicant has, prior to this notice, received a letter of 
final disposition regarding his/her exemption request. Those decision 
letters fully outlined the basis for the denial and constitute final 
action by the Agency. This notice summarizes the Agency's recent 
denials as required under 49 U.S.C. 31315(b)(4) by periodically 
publishing names and reasons for denial.
    The following 132 applicants do not meet the minimum time 
requirement for being seizure-free, either on or off of anti-seizure 
medication:

Gary Abels (MN)
Zachary Adams (MS)
William Allen (MI)
Evan Bailey (CA)
Sherman Ballard (FL)
Eduardo Barboza (CA)
Michael Bartelt (WI)
Mark Bartlebaugh (TN)
Austin Baze (CA)
Duncan Bennett (TN)
Blake Bloddington (KS)
Gary Bohl (WY)
Alber Brown (GA)
Kenneth Brown (IN)
Dwight Bryson (VA)
Steven Bucklin (IL)
Rashawn Buggs (OH)
Walter Burks (MS)
Todd Burrey (OH)
Galen Butcher (WA)
Lydia Capelle (WY)
Pietro Capobianco (NJ)
Robert Carels (PA)
William Carol III (MD)
Perry Chase (VT)
Michael Curtin (NY)
Charles Curtis (NC)
Wade Davis (NC)
Jean Daza (NJ)
Aristedes Debarros (RI)
Michael Di Leonard (NY)
Joseph S. Drion (MO)
Gregory Durmaz (WA)
Kenneth Eife (NJ)
John Engle (IN)
Natalia Ericson (CA)
Marie Evans (TX)
Tray Freeman (NC)
Logan Fry (WA)
Drew Gettel (CO)
Timothy Gilroy (IA)
Chandler Gneiting (ID)
Dakota Graham (ID)
Anthony Gray (GA)
Charlotte Greek (CA)
Denise Gristi (CA)
Mario Gutierrez (CO)
Elton Hardin (IN)

[[Page 20606]]

Zachary Harkcom (PA)
Eric Harmon (MD)
Victor Haugen (NC)
Alexander Heckler (GA)
Christopher Hensel (MN)
Patricia Herman (CT)
Zachary Hewitt (PA)
Michael Holden (FL)
Barry Huan (TN)
Christine Jacks (AL)
Shaheed Jackson (GA)
Raymond Jackson (IL)
Richard Jeromchek (WA)
Preston Keim (IN)
Leonard King (NC)
Brandon Koole (MI)
Scotty Kuester (GA)
Jeffery Kueter (IA)
Bradley Kurtz (VA)
Sara Lockhart (MO)
Shane Lore (NJ)
Demon Lowe (NC)
Gabriella Lugtu (CA)
Blake Mallet (MA)
Douglas Mallon (NH)
Cole Martin (NC)
Matthew May (CT)
Taylor McBride (VA)
Nakia McCormick (NY)
Joseph Miller (IA)
Justin Moeller (IA)
Daniel Motisi (CO)
Brandon Muarry (IN)
Cole Neard (MT)
Glen Nelle (AR)
James Nicklasson (NE)
Sarah Ogle (IN)
Louis Orenstein (CO)
David Overhoff (NY)
Todd Paiano (NJ)
Richard Parsons (KS)
Tony Pearl (TN)
Robert Pinkston (NC)
Laci Poffenberger (MR)
Blake Quilia (VT)
Anthony Raasch (MI)
Donald Richard (VT)
Kevin Riggenbach (OH)
Clinton Rogers (MA)
Jay Rohde (MN)
Eric Rosello (DE)
Bryson Rowley (UT)
Ernest Sang (NC)
William Saucier (MN)
William Schaap (NJ)
Jason Shaw (IN)
Michael Shea (NJ)
Chad Shelhart (AZ)
Daryl Shupp (PA)
Michael Sifford (ID)
Paritpal Singh (CA)
Randall Slavik (MO)
Zachary Smith (IL)
Wesley Smith (UT)
Jeffrey Smith Jr. (FL)
Tammy Snyder (NC)
Lucas Sorey (NC)
Timothy Stassel (MO)
Christopher Strawbridge (WI)
Joshua Thomason (SC)
Sean Treacy (PA)
Darby Tyler (WA)
Dimitra Tzortzis (GA)
Glenn Utter (AZ)
Paul Warren (ME)
Ryan Welder (PA)
Michael Weymouth (NH)
Cade Whitaker (ID)
George Wihoit (PA)
Steven Willett (MA)
Garrett Williams (CA)
James Wilson (TN)
Richard Wisor (PA)
Christian Yesbeck (VA)

Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2023-07191 Filed 4-5-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P