Document ID: FMCSA-1999-5748-0116
Agency: fmcsa
Document Type: Notice
Title: Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications: Vision
Posted Date: 2018-04-09T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 68 (Monday, April 9, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15223-15225]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-07182]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-1999-5578; FMCSA-1999-5748; FMCSA-2001-9258; FMCSA-
2001-10578; FMCSA-2002-11426; FMCSA-2002-12844; FMCSA-2003-15892; 
FMCSA-2003-16241; FMCSA-2005-21711; FMCSA-2005-22194; FMCSA-2007-27897; 
FMCSA-2008-0231; FMCSA-2009-0054; FMCSA-2009-0154; FMCSA-2009-0206; 
FMCSA-2011-0092; FMCSA-2011-0124; FMCSA-2011-0142; FMCSA-2011-0276; 
FMCSA-2011-26690; FMCSA-2013-0025; FMCSA-2013-0027; FMCSA-2013-0028; 
FMCSA-2013-0029; FMCSA-2013-0030; FMCSA-2013-0165; FMCSA-2013-0166; 
FMCSA-2013-0168; FMCSA-2013-0169; FMCSA-2013-0170; FMCSA-2014-0303; 
FMCSA-2015-0055; FMCSA-2015-0056; FMCSA-2015-0070; FMCSA-2015-0071; 
FMCSA-2015-0072]

Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Vision

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

ACTION: Notice of final disposition.

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SUMMARY: FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for 109 
individuals from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier 
Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) for interstate commercial motor vehicle 
(CMV) drivers. The exemptions enable these individuals to continue to 
operate CMVs in interstate commerce without meeting the vision 
requirement in one eye.

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

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Electronic Access

    You may see all the comments online through the Federal Document 
Management System (FDMS) at: http://www.regulations.gov.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments, go to http//www.regulations.gov and/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., e.t., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays.
    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 of records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed 
at http://www.dot.gov/privacy.

II. Background

    On January 16, 2018, FMCSA published a notice announcing its 
decision to renew exemptions for 109 individuals from the vision 
requirement in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10) to operate a CMV in interstate 
commerce and requested comments from the public (83 FR 2306). The 
public comment period ended on February 15, 2018, and no comments were 
received.
    As stated in the previous notice, 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 the current 
regulation 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10).
    The physical qualification standard for drivers regarding vision 
found in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10) states that a person is

[[Page 15224]]

physically qualified to driver a CMV if that person has distant visual 
acuity of at least 20/40 (Snellen) in each eye without corrective 
lenses or visual acuity separately corrected to 20/40 (Snellen) or 
better with corrective lenses, distant binocular acuity of a least 20/
40 (Snellen) in both eyes with or without corrective lenses, field of 
vision of at least 70[deg] in the horizontal meridian in each eye, and 
the ability to recognize the colors of traffic signals and devices 
showing red, green, and amber.

III. Discussion of Comments

    FMCSA received no comments in this preceding.

VI. Conclusion

    Based upon its evaluation of the 109 renewal exemption applications 
and comments received, FMCSA confirms its' decision to exempt the 
following drivers from the vision requirement in 49 CFR 391.41 (b)(10):
    In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315, the following 
groups of drivers received renewed exemptions in the month of December 
and are discussed below:
    As of December 3, 2017, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) 
and 31315, the following 48 individuals have satisfied the renewal 
conditions for obtaining an exemption from the vision requirement in 
the FMCSRs for interstate CMV drivers (64 FR 40404; 64 FR 66962; 66 FR 
17743; 66 FR 33990; 66 FR 63289; 67 FR 68719; 68 FR 2629; 68 FR 35772; 
68 FR 52811; 68 FR 61860; 68 FR 64944; 70 FR 33937; 70 FR 48797; 70 FR 
61165; 70 FR 61493; 70 FR 67776; 72 FR 39879; 72 FR 40360; 72 FR 52419; 
72 FR 64273; 73 FR 46973; 73 FR 54888; 74 FR 11988; 74 FR 21427; 74 FR 
34632; 74 FR 37295; 74 FR 41971; 74 FR 48343; 74 FR 53581; 74 FR 62632; 
76 FR 25766; 76 FR 29026; 76 FR 34136; 76 FR 37885; 76 FR 44652; 76 FR 
49531; 76 FR 53708; 76 FR 54530; 76 FR 55463; 76 FR 64171; 76 FR 70215; 
78 FR 20376; 78 FR 24798; 78 FR 27281; 78 FR 30954; 78 FR 34141; 78 FR 
34143; 78 FR 37270; 78 FR 41188; 78 FR 41975; 78 FR 46407; 78 FR 47818; 
78 FR 52602; 78 FR 56986; 78 FR 63307; 78 FR 64280; 78 FR 68137; 78 FR 
77782; 78 FR 78477; 79 FR 4531; 80 FR 14240; 80 FR 31640; 80 FR 33007; 
80 FR 33324; 80 FR 37718; 80 FR 44185; 80 FR 44188; 80 FR 48402; 80 FR 
48411; 80 FR 50917; 80 FR 59225; 80 FR 59230; 80 FR 62161; 80 FR 63869; 
80 FR 67472; 80 FR 67476; 81 FR 11642; 81 FR 1284; 81 FR 15404):

Charles R. Airey (MD)
Thomas E. Adams (IN)
Christopher L. Bagby (VA)
Joseph A. Batista (PA)
Rickie L. Boone (NC)
Jerry A. Bordelon (LA)
Timothy V. Burke (CO)
Wescott Clarke (MA)
Gene B. Clyde (NY)
Joseph Coelho (RI)
Duane C. Conway (NV)
William J. Corder (NC)
Jose C. Costa (WA)
Jon K. Dale (UT)
Thomas P. Davidson (NJ)
Elhadji M. Faye (CA)
Jason R. Gast (MO)
Edward J. Genovese (IN)
Nirmal S. Gill (CA)
Roger J. Hansen (WI)
Bradley O. Hart (UT)
Dean M. Hobson (IL)
Jesus J. Huerta (NV)
Elmer G. Isenhart (OH)
Nathan H. Jacobs (NM)
Donald L. Jensen (SD)
Darrell W. Knorr (IL)
Dale R. Knuppel (CO)
Carmelo A. Lana (NJ)
Michael Lancette (WI)
Keith A. Lang (TX)
Larry W. Lunde (WA)
Rodney M. Mimbs (GA)
Michael A. Mitchell (MS)
Dennis L. Morgan (WA)
Clarence L. Ogle (SD)
Dennis R. Ohl (MO)
James A. Parker (PA)
Chris A. Ritenour (MI)
Danilo A. Rivera (MD)
Steven L. Roberts (AR)
Michael J. Schmelzle (KS)
Ralph J. Schmitt (CO)
Wesley C. Slattery (KS)
Mark R. Stevens (IA)
Gerry W. Talbott (VA)
Daniel R. Viscaya (NC)
Paul B. Williams (NY)

    The drivers were included in docket numbers FMCSA-1999-5748; FMCSA-
2001-9258; FMCSA-2002-12844; FMCSA-2003-15892; FMCSA-2005-21711; FMCSA-
2007-27897; FMCSA-2008-0231; FMCSA-2009-0054; FMCSA-2009-0154; FMCSA-
2011-0092; FMCSA-2011-0124; FMCSA-2013-0025; FMCSA-2013-0027; FMCSA-
2013-0028; FMCSA-2013-0029; FMCSA-2013-0030; FMCSA-2013-0165; FMCSA-
2014-0303; FMCSA-2015-0055; FMCSA-2015-0056; FMCSA-2015-0070; FMCSA-
2015-0071. Their exemptions are applicable as of December 3, 2017, and 
will expire on December 3, 2019.
    As of December 5, 2017, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) 
and 31315, the following seven individuals have satisfied the renewal 
conditions for obtaining an exemption from the vision requirement in 
the FMCSRs for interstate CMV drivers (66 FR 17743; 66 FR 33990; 68 FR 
35772; 70 FR 33937; 72 FR 32705; 74 FR 26464; 74 FR 43217; 74 FR 57551; 
76 FR 34135; 76 FR 64169; 76 FR 66123; 76 FR 75943; 78 FR 62935; 78 FR 
65032; 78 FR 76395; 78 FR 77782; 80 FR 67481):

Kevin G. Clem (SD)
Rocky J. Lachney (LA)
Chase L. Larson (WA)
Herman G. Lovell (OR)
Robert E. Smith (CT)
Fred L. Stotts (OK)
Randell K. Tyler (AL)

    The drivers were included in docket numbers FMCSA-2001-9258; FMCSA-
2009-0206; FMCSA-2011-26690; FMCSA-2013-0166. Their exemptions are 
applicable as of December 5, 2017, and will expire on December 5, 2019.
    As of December 6, 2017, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) 
and 31315, the following four individuals have satisfied the renewal 
conditions for obtaining an exemption from the vision requirement in 
the FMCSRs for interstate CMV drivers (70 FR 57353; 70 FR 72689; 72 FR 
62897; 74 FR 60021; 76 FR 70210; 78 FR 66099; 80 FR 67481):

Thomas C. Meadows (NC)
David A. Morris (TX)
Richard P. Stanley (MA)
Scott A. Tetter (IL)

    The drivers were included in docket number FMCSA-2005-22194. Their 
exemptions are applicable as of December 6, 2017, and will expire on 
December 6, 2019.
    As of December 15, 2017, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) 
and 31315, the following 12 individuals have satisfied the renewal 
conditions for obtaining an exemption from the vision requirement in 
the FMCSRs for interstate CMV drivers (80 FR 70060; 81 FR 16265):

Stephen W. Barrows (OR)
Charles W. Bradley (SC)
Ricky A. Bray (AR)
Jerry W. Gibson (TX)
Michael D. Judy (KS)
Joel H. Kohagen (IA)
Kelly K. Kremer (OR)
Edward R. Lockhart (MS)
Rodolfo Martinez (TX)
Tobias G.E. Olsen (ND)
Gregory A. Woodward (OR)
Alton R. Young (MS)

    The drivers were included in docket number FMCSA-2015-0072. Their 
exemptions are applicable as of December 15, 2017, and will expire on 
December 15, 2019.
    As of December 17, 2017, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) 
and 31315, the following three individuals have satisfied the renewal 
conditions for obtaining an exemption from the vision requirement in 
the FMCSRs for

[[Page 15225]]

interstate CMV drivers (78 FR 62935; 78 FR 76395; 80 FR 67481): Herbert 
R. Brenner, (ME); Henry D. Smith, (NC); Kolby W. Strickland, (WA).
    The drivers were included in docket number FMCSA-2013-0166. Their 
exemptions are applicable as of December 17, 2017, and will expire on 
December 17, 2019.
    As of December 22, 2017, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) 
and 31315, the following two individuals have satisfied the renewal 
conditions for obtaining an exemption from the vision requirement in 
the FMCSRs for interstate CMV drivers (76 FR 49528; 76 FR 61143; 76 FR 
67248; 76 FR 79761; 78 FR 67460; 80 FR 67481): Robert E. Morgan, Jr. 
(GA), David M. Taylor (MO).
    The drivers were included in docket numbers FMCSA-2011-0142; FMCSA-
2011-0276. Their exemptions are applicable as of December 22, 2017, and 
will expire on December 22, 2019.
    As of December 24, 2017, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) 
and 31315, the following 16 individuals have satisfied the renewal 
conditions for obtaining an exemption from the vision requirement in 
the FMCSRs for interstate CMV drivers (78 FR 63302; 78 FR 64274; 78 FR 
77778; 78 FR 77780; 80 FR 67481):

Lawrence A. Angle (MO)
Ernest J. Bachman (PA)
Wayne Barker (OK)
Eugene R. Briggs (MI)
Matthew S. Burns (OH)
Lee A. DeHaan (SD)
Bradley R. Dishman (KY)
Thomas G. Gholston (MS)
Chad A. Miller (IA)
William L. Paschall (MD)
Kerry R. Powers (IN)
Eugene D. Self, Jr. (NC)
Mark P. Thiboutot (NH)
Robert Thomas (PA)
Herman D. Truewell (FL)
Janusz K. Wis (IL)

    The drivers were included in docket numbers FMCSA-2013-0168; FMCSA-
2013-0169. Their exemptions are applicable as of December 24, 2017, and 
will expire on December 24, 2019.
    As of December 27, 2017, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) 
and 31315, the following 13 individuals have satisfied the renewal 
conditions for obtaining an exemption from the vision requirement in 
the FMCSRs for interstate CMV drivers (64 FR 27027; 64 FR 51568; 66 FR 
53826; 66 FR 63289; 66 FR 66966; 67 FR 10471; 67 FR 19798; 68 FR 64944; 
68 FR 69434; 69 FR 19611; 70 FR 48797; 70 FR 53412; 70 FR 57353; 70 FR 
61493; 70 FR 67776; 70 FR 72689; 70 FR 74102; 74 FR 37295; 74 FR 48343; 
74 FR 60021; 76 FR 75942; 78 FR 67452; 80 FR 67481):

Stanley E. Elliott (UT)
Elmer E. Gockley (PA)
Glenn T. Hehner (KY)
Vladimir M. Kats (NC)
Randall B. Laminack (TX)
Robert W. Lantis (MT)
Jerry L. Lord (PA)
Eldon Miles (IN)
Neal A. Richard (LA)
Rene R. Trachsel (OR)
Stanley W. Tyler, Jr. (NC)
Kendle F. Waggle, Jr. (IN)
DeWayne Washington (NC)

    The drivers were included in docket numbers FMCSA-1999-5578; FMCSA-
2001-10578; FMCSA-2002-11426; FMCSA-2005-21711; FMCSA-2005-22194; 
FMCSA-2009-0154. Their exemptions are applicable as of December 27, 
2017, and will expire on December 27, 2019.
    As of December 31, 2017, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) 
and 31315, the following four individuals have satisfied the renewal 
conditions for obtaining an exemption from the vision requirement in 
the FMCSRs for interstate CMV drivers (66 FR 53826; 66 FR 66966; 68 FR 
61857; 68 FR 69434; 68 FR 75715; 70 FR 74102; 71 FR 646; 72 FR 71993; 
72 FR 71998; 74 FR 65846; 76 FR 78729; 78 FR 67454; 78 FR 67462; 79 FR 
4803; 80 FR 67481):

Martiniano L. Espinosa (FL)
Dustin K. Heimbach (PA)
Lonni Lomax, Jr. (IL)
John H. Voigts (AZ)

    The drivers were included in docket numbers FMCSA-2001-10578; 
FMCSA-2003-16241; FMCSA-2013-0170. Their exemptions are applicable as 
of December 31, 2017, and will expire on December 31, 2019.
    In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31315, each exemption will be valid 
for two 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 and 
31315.

    Issued on: April 2, 2018.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2018-07182 Filed 4-6-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P