Document ID: FMCSA-2012-0068-0001
Agency: fmcsa
Document Type: Notice
Title: Qualifications of Drivers; Exemption Applications: Vision; Denials
Posted Date: 2012-02-29T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 40 (Wednesday, February 29, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12361-12362]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-4870]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[4910-EX-P]

Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Vision

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

ACTION: Notice of denials.

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SUMMARY: FMCSA announces its denial of 115 applications from 
individuals who requested an exemption from the Federal vision standard 
applicable to interstate truck and bus drivers and the reasons for the 
denials. FMCSA has statutory authority to exempt individuals from the 
vision requirement if the exemptions granted will not compromise 
safety. The Agency has concluded that granting these exemptions does 
not provide a level of safety that will be equivalent to, or greater 
than, the level of safety maintained without the exemptions for these 
commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elaine M. Papp, Chief, Medical 
Programs Division, 202-366-4001, U.S. Department of Transportation, 
FMCSA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Room W64-224, Washington, DC 20590-
0001. Office hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Under 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315, FMCSA may grant an exemption 
from the Federal vision standard for a renewable 2-year period if it 
finds ``such an exemption would likely achieve a level of safety that 
is equivalent to or greater than the level that would be achieved 
absent such an exemption.'' The procedures for requesting an exemption 
are set forth in 49 CFR part 381.
    Accordingly, FMCSA evaluated 115 individual exemption requests on 
their merit and made a determination that these applicants do not 
satisfy the criteria eligibility or meet the terms and conditions of 
the Federal exemption program. Each applicant has, prior to this 
notice, received a letter of final disposition on the exemption 
request. Those decision letters fully outlined the basis for the denial 
and constitute final Agency action. The list published in 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.
    One applicant, Donald Dickerson, lacked sufficient driving 
experience during the 3-year period prior to the date of his 
application.
    The following 21 applicants had no experience operating a CMV:

Michael Meke-Eze
David M. Krause
Michael R. Morgan
Alexander D. Avery
Alan J. Chmielews
Kevie D. Clark
Shatisha Y. Tharrinton
Garn J. Hickam
Mohamed Sannoh
Daniel Ponce
Amanda Upchurch
David W. Cox
Dean A. Saaranen
David L. Stout
Kasey L. Tanner
James J. Perkins
William N. Wheeler
Glen Stryker
Donald F. Evans
Frank Ferrara
Michael B. Timmins

    The following 28 applicants did not have 3 years of experience 
driving a CMV on public highways with their vision deficiencies:

Russell Burden
Norvan Brown
Eddie R. Del Angel
George E. Gross
Wayne Figroid
Darrell E. Graumann
Heidi J. Morse
Ian D. Holbin
Boyd M. Kinzer, Jr.
Michael Hamm
Kenneth P. Nichols
Nicholas E. Lemaster
Terry Kenne
Brandon R. Ferguson
Dennis Yost
Alex P. Makhanov
Lonnie L. Tincher
Jessie A. Tanner
Gabirl A. Natale
Martin C. Baschab
Donald Hooper
Gregory Chiropolos
Ronnie G. Lynn
Malinda N. Parks
Mark Smith
Stephen C. Linardos
Dani A. Alvarez
Shawn L. Smith

    The following 12 applicants did not have 3 years of recent 
experience driving a CMV with the vision deficiency:

Joshua H. Boatright
Domingo V. Perez
James F. Blush
Dean L. Christenson
George R. Boutin
Eugene P. Fournier
Rudolph J. McPhearson
Saint Marc Louis
Edgar Daye
Anthony Bartel
Ronald Bounds
Paul L. Baker

    The following 7 applicants did not have sufficient driving 
experience

[[Page 12362]]

during the past 3 years under normal highway operating conditions:

Steve Volden
Alan D. Mohoric
Victor Kitchen
Michael E. Mellon
Cesar Villa
Larry Allen
Terry Blair

    The following 4 applicants had their commercial driver's license 
suspended during the 3-year review period for moving violations. 
Applicants do not qualify for an exemption with a suspension during the 
3-year period:

William C. Pinson
Wayne L. Green
Stephen R. Marshall
James A. Fassbender

    The following 6 applicants were denied for miscellaneous/multiple 
reasons:

Paul Kissner, Jr.
Nery Madera
Richard Wilson
David Traylor
Lucio Nieves
Dewey W. Justice

    The following applicant, William J. Hoitsma, Jr., was denied 
because his vision was not stable for the entire 3-year period.
    The following applicant, Kentucky J. Coby, was denied because he 
does not meet the vision standard in the better eye.
    The following 9 applicants met the current federal vision 
standards. Exemptions are not required for applicants who meet the 
current regulations for vision:

Richard Kreye
Virgil L. Adams
Hamidullah Khan
Victor Ramirez
Dale Crumb
Henry DeLaRosa
David M. Taylor
Dwight Hicks
Robert H. White

    The following 19 applicants were denied because they will not be 
driving interstate, interstate commerce, or not required to carry a DOT 
medical card:

Ronald Baker
Lee H. Freeman, Jr.
Ronald R. Detwiler
Diana L. Bartlow
Akbar Roohani
Danny Michael Harris
Richard Karbo
Mark Birkins
Marshall J. Desadier
Jason Butcher
Michael Layher
James Troxler
Sebastian G. Jachymiak
Joel G. Allard
Donald D. Barnett, Jr.
Brent A. Torrey
Harold Johnson
Thomas B. Bliven
Tomas J. Ortega

    Finally, the following 7 applicants perform transportation for the 
federal government, state, or any political sub-division of the state.

William M. Bugbee
Albert E. Richan
Gregory K. Moon
Joseph Okolowski
Gary S. Carrol
Charlie C. Kimmel
Julianne M. Kaeser

    Issued on: February 22, 2012.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2012-4870 Filed 2-28-12; 8:45 am]
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