Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Epilepsy and Seizure Disorders

AGENCY:

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT.

ACTION:

Notice of applications for exemptions; request for comments.

SUMMARY:

FMCSA announces receipt of applications from 17 individuals for an exemption from the prohibition against persons with a clinical diagnosis of epilepsy or any other condition that is likely to cause a loss of consciousness or any loss of ability to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in interstate commerce. The regulation and the associated advisory criteria published in the Code of Federal Regulations as the “Instructions for Performing and Recording Physical Examinations” have resulted in numerous drivers being prohibited from operating CMVs in interstate commerce based on the fact that they have had one or more seizures and are taking anti-seizure medication, rather than an individual analysis of their circumstances by a qualified medical examiner. If granted, the exemptions would enable these individuals who have had one or more seizures and are taking anti-seizure medication to operate CMVs for up to 2 years in interstate commerce.

DATES:

Comments must be received on or before January 20, 2016.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments bearing the Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) Docket ID FMCSA-2015-0320 using any of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line 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., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays.
• Fax: 1-202-493-2251.

Each submission must include the Agency name and the docket ID for this Notice. Note that DOT posts all comments received without change to www.regulations.gov,, including any personal information included in a comment. Please see the Privacy Act heading below.

Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or comments, go to 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 on-line.

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 www.regulations.gov,, as described in the system records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at www.dot.gov/privacy.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Christine A. Hydock, Chief, Medical Programs Division, (202) 366-4001, or via email at fmcsamedical@dot.gov, or by letter to FMCSA, Room W64-113, Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 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. 31315 and 31136(e), FMCSA may grant an exemption for up to a 2-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 statutes allow the Agency to renew exemptions at the end of the 2-year period. The 17 individuals listed in this notice have requested an exemption from the epilepsy prohibition in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(8), which applies to drivers who operate CMVs as defined in 49 CFR 390.5, in interstate commerce. Section 391.41(b)(8) states that a person is physically qualified to drive a CMV if that person has no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of epilepsy or any other condition which is likely to cause the loss of consciousness or any loss of ability to control a CMV.

FMCSA provides medical advisory criteria for use by medical examiners in determining whether drivers with certain medical conditions should be certified to operate CMVs in intrastate commerce. The advisory criteria indicate that if an individual has had a sudden episode of a non-epileptic seizure or loss of consciousness of unknown cause that did not require anti-seizure medication, the decision whether that person's condition is likely to cause the loss of consciousness or loss of ability to control a CMV should be made on an individual basis by the medical examiner in consultation with the treating physician. Before certification is considered, it is suggested that a 6-month waiting period elapse from the time of the episode. Following the waiting period, it is suggested that the individual have a complete neurological examination. If the results of the examination are negative and anti-seizure medication is not required, then the driver may be qualified.

In those individual cases where a driver had a seizure or an episode of loss of consciousness that resulted from a known medical condition (e.g., drug reaction, high temperature, acute infectious disease, dehydration, or acute metabolic disturbance), certification should be deferred until the driver has recovered fully from that condition, has no existing residual complications, and is not taking anti-seizure medication. Drivers who have a history of epilepsy/seizures, off anti-seizure medication and seizure-free for 10 years, may be qualified to operate a CMV in interstate commerce. Interstate drivers with a history of a single unprovoked seizure may be qualified to drive a CMV in interstate commerce if seizure-free and off anti-seizure medication for a 5-year period or more.

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-2015-0320” 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 81/2 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 material received during the comment period and may change this proposed rule based on your comments. FMCSA may issue a final rule at any time after the close of the comment period.

Viewing Comments and Documents

To view comments, as well as any documents mentioned in this preamble, To submit your comment online, go to http://www.regulations.gov and in the search box insert the docket number “FMCSA-2015-0320” and click “Search.” Next, click “Open Docket Folder” and you will find all documents and comments related to the proposed rulemaking.

Summary of Applications

James E. Allen

Mr. Allen is a 48 year-old driver in Maine. He has a history of a seizure disorder and has remained seizure free since 1992. He takes anti-seizure medication with the dosage and frequency remaining the same since 2003. His physician states that he is supportive of Mr. Allen receiving an exemption.

Richard A. Bailey

Mr. Bailey is a 65 year-old class A CDL holder in Iowa. He has a history of a seizure disorder and has remained seizure free since 2009. He takes anti-seizure medication with the dosage and frequency remaining the same since that time. His physician states that he is supportive of Mr. Bailey receiving an exemption.

Thomas A. DeAngelo

Mr. DeAngelo is a 43 year-old class A CDL holder in Illinois. He has a history of a seizure disorder and has remained seizure free since 1990. He takes anti-seizure medication with the dosage and frequency remaining the same since 1998. His physician states that he is supportive of Mr. DeAngelo receiving an exemption.

Nathan Dermer

Mr. Dermer is a 40 year-old driver in Alaska. He has a history of a benign brain tumor removal in 1991 and a single seizure in 1994. He takes anti-seizure medication with the dosage and frequency remaining the same since that time. His physician states that he is supportive of Mr. Dermer receiving an exemption.

Daniel Lloyd Halstead

Mr. Halstead is a 63 year-old class A CDL holder in Nevada. He has a history of a seizure disorder and has remained seizure free since 1973. He takes anti-seizure medication with the dosage and frequency remaining the same since 2005. His physician states that he is supportive of Mr. Halstead receiving an exemption.

Kevin Mathis

Mr. Mathis is a 29 year-old driver in New Jersey. He has a history of juvenile myoclonic epilepsy and has remained seizure free since 2003. He takes anti-seizure medication with the dosage and frequency remaining the same since that time. His physician states that he is supportive of Mr. Mathis receiving an exemption.

Toriano T. Mitchell

Mr. Mitchell is a 32 year-old class B CDL holder in Ohio. He has a history of a seizure disorder and has remained seizure free since 2003. He takes anti-seizure medication with the dosage and frequency remaining the same since that time. His physician states that he is supportive of Mr. Mitchell receiving an exemption.

Thomas A. Mitman

Mr. Mitman is a 58 year-old class A CDL holder in New York. He has a history of a seizure disorder and has remained seizure free since 1996. He takes anti-seizure medication with the dosage and frequency remaining the same since that time. His physician states that he is supportive of Mr. Mitman receiving an exemption.

James P. Murphy

Mr. Murphy is a 39 year-old driver in Massachusetts. He has a history of a single seizure and tumor removal in 2011. He was previously on anti-seizure medication but discontinued it 2015. His physician states that he is supportive of Mr. Murphy receiving an exemption.

Jason Christopher Nikolas

Mr. Nikolas is a 42 year-old driver in Virginia. He has a history of epilepsy and has remained seizure free since 2012. He takes anti-seizure medication with the dosage and frequency remaining the same since that time. His physician states that he is supportive of Mr. Nikolas receiving an exemption.

Curtis Joseph Palubicki

Mr. Palubicki is a 29 year-old driver in Minnesota. He has a history of epilepsy and has remained seizure free since September 2008. He takes anti-seizure medication with the dosage and frequency remaining the same since that time. His physician states that he is supportive of Mr. Palubicki receiving an exemption.

Franklin Prettyman

Mr. Prettyman is a 77 year-old driver in Maryland. He has a history of a seizure disorder and has remained seizure free since 2012. He takes anti-seizure medication with the dosage and frequency remaining the same since that time. His physician states that he is supportive of Mr. Prettyman receiving an exemption.

Chad Riemenschneider

Mr. Riemenschneider is a 35 year-old driver in Texas. He has a history of a single seizure in 2011 related to a brain tumor. He takes anti-seizure medication with the dosage and frequency remaining the same since that time. His physician states that he is supportive of Mr. Riemenschneider receiving an exemption.

Isaac E. Rogers

Mr. Rogers is a 29 year-old class A CDL holder in Illinois. He has a history of a seizure disorder and has remained seizure free since 2009. He takes anti-seizure medication with the dosage and frequency remaining the same since that time. His physician states that he is supportive of Mr. Rogers receiving an exemption.

Tyler W. Schaefor

Mr. Schaefor is a 34 year-old driver in Maine. He has a history of a seizure disorder and has remained seizure free since 2003. He takes anti-seizure medication with the dosage and frequency remaining the same since 2008. His physician states that he is supportive of Mr. Schaefor receiving an exemption.

Kenneth P. Schmitt

Mr. Schmitt is a 38 year-old driver in South Dakota. He has a history of a seizure disorder and his last seizure date is not documented. He takes anti-seizure medication with the dosage and frequency remaining the same and his physician notes that Mr. Schmitt admits to occasional anti-seizure medication noncompliance. His physician states that he is supportive of Mr. Schmittt receiving an exemption.

Alfonso Valdivieso

Mr. Valdivieso is a 52 year-old class A CDL holder in New York. He has a history of a seizure disorder and has remained seizure free since 2011. He takes anti-seizure medication with the dosage and frequency remaining the same since that time. His physician states that he is supportive of Mr. Valdivieso receiving an exemption.

Request for Comments

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