Document ID: FMCSA-2016-0353-0001
Agency: fmcsa
Document Type: Notice
Title: Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications: Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators
Posted Date: 2016-10-20T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 203 (Thursday, October 20, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72661-72663]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-25384]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2016-0353]

Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Implantable 
Cardioverter Defibrillators

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

ACTION: Notice of applications for exemption; request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: FMCSA announces receipt of applications from three individuals 
for exemptions from the rules prohibiting operation of a commercial 
motor vehicle (CMV) by persons with a current clinical diagnosis of 
myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, coronary insufficiency, 
thrombosis, or any other cardiovascular disease of a variety known to 
be accompanied by syncope, dyspnea, collapse, or congestive heart 
failure. If granted, the exemptions would enable these individuals to 
operate CMVs for up to two years in interstate commerce.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before November 21, 2016.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments bearing the Federal Docket 
Management System (FDMS) Docket ID FMCSA-2016-0353 using any of the 
following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West Building Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery or Courier: West Building Ground Floor, Room 
W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE.,

[[Page 72662]]

Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal Holidays.
     Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
    Instructions: Each submission must include the Agency name and the 
docket ID for this Notice. Note that all comments received will be 
posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov, including any 
personal information provided. Please see the Privacy Act heading below 
for further information.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments, go to http://www.regulations.gov, at any time or Room W12-140 
on the ground level of the West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 
Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. The FDMS is available 24 hours each day, 365 
days each year. If you want acknowledgment that we received your 
comments, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope or postcard 
or print the acknowledgement page that appears after submitting 
comments online.
    Privacy Act: In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits 
comments from the public to better inform its rulemaking process. DOT 
posts these comments, without edit, including any personal information 
the commenter provides, to http://www.regulations.gov, as described in 
the system records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at 
http://www.dot.gov/privacy.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Christine A. Hydock, Chief, 
Medical Programs Division, (202) 366-4001, fmcsamedical@dot.gov, FMCSA, 
Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Room W64-
113,Washington, DC 20590-0001. Office hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 5 
p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    Under 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315, FMCSA may grant an exemption 
from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) 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 statute also allows the Agency to 
renew exemptions at the end of the two-year period. The three 
individuals listed in this notice have requested an exemption from 49 
CFR 391.41(b)(4), which applies to drivers who operates CMVs in 
interstate commerce. Accordingly, the Agency will evaluate the 
qualifications of each applicant to determine whether granting the 
exemption will achieve the required level of safety mandated by 
statute.
    The physical qualification standard found in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(4) 
states that a person is physically qualified to drive a CMV if that 
person

Has no current clinical diagnosis of myocardial infarction, angina 
pectoris, coronary insufficiency, thrombosis, or any other 
cardiovascular disease of a variety known to be accompanied by 
syncope, dyspnea, collapse, or congestive cardiac failure.

    In addition to the regulations, FMCSA has published advisory 
criteria\1\ to assist medical examiners in determining whether drivers 
with certain medical conditions are qualified to operate a CMV in 
interstate commerce. [49 CFR part 391, APPENDIX A TO PART 391--MEDICAL 
ADVISORY CRITERIA, section D. Cardiovascular: Sec.  391.41(b)(4), 
paragraph 4.] The advisory criteria states that ICDs are disqualifying 
due to risk of syncope.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ See http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=e47b48a9ea42dd67d999246e23d97970&mc=true&node=pt49.5.391&rgn=div5#ap49.5.391_171.a and https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2015-title49-vol5/pdf/CFR-2015-title49-vol5-part391-appA.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Qualifications of Applicants

Gary Fancher

    Mr. Fancher is a 73 year old Class A CDL holder in Arkansas. A May 
2016 cardiologist report indicates that Mr. Fancher's biventricular ICD 
was implanted in December 2015 and ``since then he has done great 
making remarkable progress''. ``His EF (ejection fraction) has nearly 
normalized with optimal medication therapy and bi-V ICD optimization to 
currently 45%.'' ``Patient denies syncope, pre-syncope, chest pain, 
shortness of breath.'' ``His exercise capability has been totally 
normalized.''

Henry McGuire

    Mr. McGuire is a 61 year old Class A CDL holder in Washington 
State. An April 2016 report from Mr. McGuire's cardiologist indicates 
that his ICD was implanted in 2001 and ``since following him (Mr. 
McGuire) believes since implant he has never had a shock or ATP 
therapy''. Mr. McGuire received an intrastate medical waiver by the 
State of Washington that expires in April 2017.

Matthew Wilson

    Mr. Wilson is a 37 year old commercial motor vehicle driver in 
Florida. An August 2016 letter from his cardiologist indicates that Mr. 
Wilson's ICD was implanted in June 2014 and that '' this ICD device has 
never deployed and was implanted as a precautionary due to Mr. Wilson's 
past history''. Mr. Wilson is currently stable from heart failure 
standpoint''.

II. Request for Comments

    In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315, FMCSA requests 
public comment from all interested persons on the exemption petitions 
described in this notice. We will consider all comments received before 
the close of business on the closing date indicated in the date section 
of the notice.

III. Submitting Comments

    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 that FMCSA 
can contact you if there are questions regarding your submission.
    To submit your comment online, go to http://www.regulations.gov and 
in the search box insert the docket number ``FMCSA-2016-0353'' and 
click the search button. When the new screen appears, click on the blue 
``Comment Now!'' button on the right hand side of the page. On the new 
page, enter information required including the specific section of this 
document to which each comment applies, and provide a reason for each 
suggestion or recommendation. 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.
    We will consider all comments and materials received during the 
comment period. FMCSA may issue a final determination any time after 
the close of the comment period.

IV. Viewing Comments and Documents

    To view comments, as well as any documents mentioned in this 
preamble, go to http://www.regulations.gov and in the search box insert 
the docket number FMCSA-2016-0175 and click ``Search.'' Next, click 
``Open Docket Folder'' and you will find all documents and comments 
related to this notice.

[[Page 72663]]

    Issued on: October 12, 2016.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2016-25384 Filed 10-19-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P