Document ID: FMCSA-2013-0123-0030
Agency: fmcsa
Document Type: Notice
Title: Exemption Application: Qualification of Drivers; Hearing
Posted Date: 2022-10-17T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 198 (Friday, October 14, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62487-62488]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-22342]

[[Page 62487]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2013-0122; FMCSA-2013-0123; FMCSA-2013-0125; FMCSA-
2014-0102; FMCSA-2014-0107; FMCSA-2015-0327; FMCSA-2015-0328; FMCSA-
2015-0329; FMCSA-2017-0057; FMCSA-2017-0059; FMCSA-2017-0060; FMCSA-
2018-0139; FMCSA-2019-0109; FMCSA-2019-0111; FMCSA-2020-0024; FMCSA-
2020-0025]

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 40 
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, (202) 366-4001, [email protected], FMCSA, 
DOT, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Room W64-224, Washington, DC 20590-
0001. 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 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-2013-0122, FMCSA-2013-0123, FMCSA-2013-0125, FMCSA-2014-
0102, FMCSA-2014-0107, FMCSA-2015-0327, FMCSA-2015-0328, FMCSA-2015-
0329, FMCSA-2017-0057, FMCSA-2017-0059, FMCSA-2017-0060, FMCSA-2018-
0139, FMCSA-2019-0109, FMCSA-2019-0111, FMCSA-2020-0024, or FMCSA-2020-
0025 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 FDMS), which can be reviewed at www.dot.gov/privacy, 
the comments are searchable by the name of the submitter.

II. Background

    On August 10, 2022, FMCSA published a notice announcing its 
decision to renew exemptions for 40 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 48749). The 
public comment period ended on September 9, 2022, and no comments were 
received.
    FMCSA has evaluated the eligibility of these applicants and 
determined that renewing these exemptions would 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 3, 1971).

III. Discussion of Comments

    FMCSA received no comments in this proceeding.

IV. Conclusion

    Based upon its evaluation of the 40 renewal exemption applications, 
FMCSA announces its decision to exempt the following drivers from the 
hearing requirement in Sec.  391.41 (b)(11).
    As of June 17, 2022, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 
31315(b), the following 23 individuals have satisfied the renewal 
conditions for obtaining an exemption from the hearing requirement in 
the FMCSRs for interstate CMV drivers (87 FR 48749):

Paul Aseka (TX)
James Bogart (KS)
Thomas Buretz (FL)
Forrest Carroll (OH)
Glenn Ferguson (TX)
Ariel Gonzalez (RI)
Nicholas Green (FL)
Richard Hadlock (IL)
Sean Hunt (SC)
Jesus Javier (NJ)
Larry Lang (TX)
Yoel Lopez-Perez (FL)
Bryan MacFarlane (OH)
Darren Nordquist (WI)
Anthony Panto (NJ)
Ernst Pratt (PA)
Brian Shoup (SC)
William Symonds (IL)
Steven Tipton (IA)
Daniel Tricolici (MA)
Wayne Turner (IL)
Fernando Velasquez (TX)
Scott Weeaks (OK)

    The drivers were included in docket number FMCSA-2013-0122, FMCSA-
2013-0123, FMCSA-2013-0125, FMCSA-2014-0107, FMCSA-2015-0327, FMCSA-
2015-0328, FMCSA-2015-0329, FMCSA-2017-0057, FMCSA-2017-0059, FMCSA-
2018-0139, FMCSA-2019-0109, FMCSA-2019-0111, or FMCSA-2020-0024. Their 
exemptions were applicable as of June 17, 2022 and will expire on June 
17, 2024.
    As of June 18, 2022, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 
31315(b), the following seven individuals have satisfied the renewal 
conditions for obtaining an exemption from the hearing requirement in 
the FMCSRs for interstate CMV drivers (87 FR 48749):

Joshua Affholter (MI)
Gantulga Badarach (IL)
Awash Demoz (MD)
Muhammad Javed (IN)
Charles O'Bryan (NY)
Anna Ruiz (AZ)
Kyle Taylor (GA)

    The drivers were included in docket number FMCSA-2020-0025. Their

[[Page 62488]]

exemptions were applicable as of June 18, 2022 and will expire on June 
18, 2024.
    As of June 25, 2022, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 
31315(b), the following three individuals have satisfied the renewal 
conditions for obtaining an exemption from the hearing requirement in 
the FMCSRs for interstate CMV drivers (87 FR 48749):
    Alfredo Ramirez (TX); Julie Ramirez (TX); and Hayden Teesdale (TX).
    The drivers were included in docket number FMCSA-2014-0102. Their 
exemptions were applicable as of June 25, 2022 and will expire on June 
25, 2024.
    As of June 29, 2022, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 
31315(b), the following seven individuals have satisfied the renewal 
conditions for obtaining an exemption from the hearing requirement in 
the FMCSRs for interstate CMV drivers (87 FR 48749):

Leroy Carter (OH)
Robert Cates (NM)
Brodey DiPasquale (MD)
Richard Fisher (PA)
Kimberly Foss (OR)
Marcel Paul (WA)
Jason Winemiller (IL)

    The drivers were included in docket number FMCSA-2017-0060. Their 
exemptions were applicable as of June 29, 2022 and will expire on June 
29, 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(e) and 
31315(b).

Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2022-22342 Filed 10-13-22; 8:45 am]
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