2017-21901. Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Diabetes

AGENCY:

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT.

ACTION:

Notice of final disposition.

SUMMARY:

FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for 127 individuals from its prohibition in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) against persons with insulin-treated diabetes mellitus (ITDM) from operating commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce. The exemptions enable these individuals with ITDM 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 stated in the discussions below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ms. Christine A. Hydock, Chief, Medical Programs Division, 202-366-4001, [e-mail], 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 5:30 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 [phone].

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 July 27, 2017, FMCSA published a notice announcing its decision to renew exemptions for 127 individuals from the insulin-treated diabetes mellitus prohibition in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(3) to operate a CMV in interstate commerce and requested comments from the public (82 FR 35029). The public comment period ended on August 28, 2017, and one comment was 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)(3).

The physical qualification standard for drivers regarding diabetes found in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(3) states that a person is physically qualified to drive a CMV if that person:

Has no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of diabetes mellitus currently requiring insulin for control.

III. Discussion of Comments

FMCSA received one comment in this preceding. An anonymous commenter stated they believe the rule preventing drivers with ITDM operating CMVs in interstate commerce should be removed and the medical examiners should determine whether a driver is fit to operate a CMV in interstate commerce. On May 4, 2015, FMCSA published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) (80 FR 25260) proposing changes to the Diabetes standard and requesting comments from the public. FMCSA is currently evaluating comments received and drafting a Final Rule. Information related to this action can be found in the Docket at FMCSA-2005-23151.

IV. Conclusion

Based upon its evaluation of the 127 renewal exemption applications and comments received, FMCSA announces its' decision to exempt the following drivers from the rule prohibiting drivers with ITDM from driving CMVs in interstate commerce in 49 CFR 391.64(3):

As of August 1, 2017, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315, the following 35 individuals have satisfied the renewal conditions for obtaining an exemption from the rule prohibiting drivers with ITDM from driving CMVs in interstate commerce (80 FR 37719; 80 FR 59223):

Adele M. Aasen (ND)

Kyle E. Beine (WI)

Joseph M. Blackwell (GA)

Joseph G. Blastick (SD)

Gary W. Boninsegna (OH)

Billy J. Bronson (OR)

Michael L. Campbell (NC)

Steven C. Cornell (PA)

Josiah L. Crestik (MN)

Richard L. Cunningham (NE)

Thomas M. Delasko (FL)

William T. Eason (NC)

Douglas J. Garrison (IA)

Daniel W. Gregory (NC)

Barry L. Grimes, Sr. (MD)

Dennis J. Grimm (DE)

Stephen G. Helmer (NE)

Marco K. Higgs (OR)

Jeffrey T. Hunley (NC)

Colin S. Jackson (WA)

Peter E. Mizialko (NJ)

Michael I. Moore (IN)

Richard M. Ohland (MN)

James D. Parrish (NC)

Justin D. Redding (MT)

Alex R. Rumph (MT)

Kenneth S. Schoenberger (PA)

Jarred E. Shawles (CA)

Howard L. Smith (IL)

Jeffrey S. Snyder (PA)

Jerry L. Stevens (NE)

Todd Stover (PA)

Dennis P. Walker, Jr. (OH)

Horace V. Watson (GA)

Jeremy W. Wolfe (MO)

The drivers were included in docket number FMCSA-2015-0062. Their exemptions are applicable as of August 1, 2017, and will expire on August 1, 2019.

As of August 3, 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 rule prohibiting drivers with ITDM from driving CMVs in interstate commerce (74 FR 28097; 74 FR 38481):

Joseph Jurewicz (CT)

Dana N. Larsen (UT)

Jason G. Leavitt (UT)

Thomas M. Petee (MI)

Jim A. Phelps (MI)

James F. Rabideau, Jr. (NY)

John E. Spano (MA)

The drivers were included in docket number FMCSA-2009-0155. Their exemptions are applicable as of August 3, 2017, and will expire on August 3, 2019.

As of August 4, 2017, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315, the following eight individuals have satisfied the renewal conditions for obtaining an exemption from the rule prohibiting drivers with ITDM from driving CMVs in interstate commerce (76 FR 34127; 76 FR 47288):

Richard A. Bosma (IL)

Ronnie E. Combs, Jr. (KY)

Barbara A. Farrell (WA)

Tony D. Gayles (KY)

Joshua D. Kohl (IA)

Judah A. Nell (PA)

Peter J. Wasko, Jr. (PA)

Alfred Zaldana (CA)

The drivers were included in docket number FMCSA-2011-0125. Their exemptions are applicable as of August 4, 2017, and will expire on August 4, 2019.

As of August 5, 2017, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315, the following ten individuals have satisfied the renewal conditions for obtaining an exemption from the rule prohibiting drivers with ITDM from driving CMVs in interstate commerce (76 FR 34127; 76 FR 47288):

Justin C. Brewer (NY)

Roger W. Carr (MD)

Stanley D. Ingram (TN)

Rondal W. Kennedy (KY)

Jerry W. Miller (VA)

Gregg O. Price (MS)

Gary D. Pugliese (NJ)

Jeffrey A. Radel (PA)

Vladmir V. Tayts (PA)

Jady R. Tengs (ID)

The drivers were included in docket number FMCSA-2011-0144. Their exemptions are applicable as of August 5, 2017, and will expire on August 5, 2019.

As of August 15, 2017, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315, the following 43 individuals have satisfied the renewal conditions for obtaining an exemption from the rule prohibiting drivers with ITDM from driving CMVs in interstate commerce (80 FR 41550; 80 FR 59229):

Henry Andreoli (NH)

Jonathan A. Boston (NY)

James G. Bracegirdle (GA)

Joseph C. Brewster (VA)

Bradley R. Brown (NH)

Annette F. Bryant (CA)

Brian G. Carter (GA)

Daniel B. Craig (OR)

Sean W. Dempsey (OH)

Patrick L. Feely (MN)

Garry W. Garrison (WI)

James Gennello (NJ)

John T. Gorman (NJ)

Joel K. Hawkins (IL)

Gary L. Hulslander (PA)

Daniel E. Jackowski (WI)

John W. Johnson (TN)

Samuel S. Johnson (WI)

Charles A. Kelley (IA)

Omer E. King (PA)

Eric R. Knutson (MN)

Bruce E. Koehn (KS)

Douglas L. Kugler (MN)

Andrew S. McKinney (MN)

Douglas D. Miller (WY)

Robert F. Perez (PA)

Ray E. Phipps (IL)

Bruce F. Sanderson (LA)

Raymond Santiago (NJ)

Travis D. Shadden (IN)

Randy S. Steinbach (WA)

Paul R. Thorkelson (MN)

Michael J. Toth (PA)

Christopher O. Trent (KS)

Charles H. Turner (WI)

Jesse W. Turner (MI)

Donavan A. Van Houten (WA)

Matt S. Volk (NE)

Daniel M. Waldner (ND)

Timothy L. Wilkinson (OH)

Catherine A. Wilcox (CT)

Kenneth P. Wing (MI)

Timothy W. Young (PA)

The drivers were included in docket number FMCSA-2015-0063. Their exemptions are applicable as of August 15, 2017, and will expire on August 15, 2019.

As of August 16, 2017, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315, the following 14 individuals have satisfied the renewal conditions for obtaining an exemption from the rule prohibiting drivers with ITDM from driving CMVs in interstate commerce (78 FR 32704; 78 FR 50140):

Herlen D. Barner (TN)

James W. Bledsoe (AL)

Daniel L. Bosley (KY)

Verland G. Casper (WI)

Kyle P. Cerra (PA)

Raymond K. Harper (KS)

Shane B. Henninger (IA)

Jeffrey S. Hubbell (PA)

Kevin T. Johnson (SD)

Randall L. Krider (IN)

William J. Panoch (WI)

James E. Smith (TN)

Kevin R. Treichel (IA)

Thomas R. Yecker (PA)

The drivers were included in docket number FMCSA-2013-0019. Their exemptions are applicable as of August 16, 2017, and will expire on August 16, 2019.

As of August 29, 2017, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315, the following nine individuals have satisfied the renewal conditions for obtaining an exemption from the rule prohibiting drivers with ITDM from driving CMVs in interstate commerce (76 FR 40439; 76 FR 53707):

Bryan K. Aaron (UT)

Donald M. Bergman (MN)

Ronald J. Boehm (IN)

Vernon W. Elmore (MS)

Michael J. Gilbert (WA)

Andrew W. Richey (MS)

Thomas M. Shafer (IN)

Allen D. Stevenson (NJ)

Oleg Tarasov (NJ)

The drivers were included in docket number FMCSA-2011-0145. Their exemptions are applicable as of August 29, 2017, and will expire on August 29, 2019.

As of August 30, 2017, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315, Lloyd K. Steinkamp (WV) has satisfied the renewal conditions for obtaining an exemption from the rule prohibiting drivers with ITDM from driving CMVs in interstate commerce (78 FR 38435; 78 FR 63294).

The driver was included in docket number FMCSA-2013-0181. The exemption is applicable as of August 30, 2017, and will expire on August 30, 2019.

In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31315, each exemption will be valid for two years from the applicable 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: October 2, 2017.

Larry W. Minor,

Associate Administrator for Policy.