[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 230 (Thursday, December 1, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73803-73804]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-26129]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2022-0180]


Entry-Level Driver Training: Robert Towle; Application for 
Exemption

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

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

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SUMMARY: FMCSA announces that it has received an application for 
exemption from Robert Towle from two provisions in the entry-level 
driver training (ELDT) regulations. FMCSA requests public comment on 
the applicant's request for exemption.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 3, 2023.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by Federal Docket 
Management System (FDMS) Number FMCSA-2022-0180 by any of the following 
methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: www.regulations.gov. See the 
Public Participation and Request for Comments section below for further 
information.
     Mail: Dockets Operations, 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, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. 
E.T., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
     Fax: (202) 493-2251.
    Each submission must include the Agency name and the docket number 
(FMCSA-2022-0180) 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 visit 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., ET, Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. To be sure someone is there to help you, 
please call (202) 366-9317 or (202) 366-9826 before visiting Dockets 
Operations.
    Privacy Act: In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31315(b), DOT solicits 
comments from the public to better inform its exemption process. DOT 
posts these comments, without edit, including any personal information 
the commenter provides, to www.regulations.gov. As described in the 
system of records notice DOT/ALL 14-FDMS, which can be reviewed at 
https://www.transportation.gov/privacy, the comments are searchable by 
the name of the submitter.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Richard Clemente, Driver and 
Carrier Operations Division; Office of Carrier, Driver and Vehicle 
Safety Standards, FMCSA; (202) 366-2722; [email protected]. If you have 
questions on viewing or submitting material to the docket, contact 
Dockets Operations at (202) 366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Public Participation and Request for Comments

    FMCSA encourages you to participate by submitting comments and 
related materials.

Submitting Comments

    If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this 
notice (FMCSA-2022-0180), indicate the specific section of this 
document to which the comment applies, and provide a reason for 
suggestions or recommendations. 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

[[Page 73804]]

body of your document so the Agency can contact you if it has questions 
regarding your submission.
    To submit your comment online, go to www.regulations.gov and put 
the docket number ``FMCSA-2022-0180'' in the keyword box, and click 
``Search.'' Next, sort the results by ``Posted (Newer-Older),'' choose 
the first notice listed, click the ``Comment'' button, and type your 
comment into the text box on the following screen. Choose whether you 
are submitting your comment as an individual or on behalf of a third 
party and then submit. 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. FMCSA 
will consider all comments and material received during the comment 
period.

II. Legal Basis

    FMCSA has authority under 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315(b) to grant 
exemptions from Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs). 
FMCSA must publish a notice of each exemption request in the Federal 
Register (49 CFR 381.315(a)). The Agency must provide the public an 
opportunity to inspect the information relevant to the application, 
including any safety analyses that have been conducted. The Agency must 
provide an opportunity for public comment on the request.
    The Agency reviews safety analyses and public comments submitted 
and determines whether granting the exemption would likely achieve a 
level of safety equivalent to, or greater than, the level that would be 
achieved by the current regulation (49 CFR 381.305). The Agency must 
publish its decision in the Federal Register (49 CFR 381.315(b)) with 
the reasons for denying or granting the application and, if granted, 
the name of the person or class of persons receiving the exemption and 
the regulatory provision from which the exemption is granted. The 
notice must specify the effective period and explain the terms and 
conditions of the exemption. The exemption may be renewed (49 CFR 
381.300(b)).

III. Applicant's Request

    Robert Towle seeks an exemption from two requirements in the ELDT 
regulations. First, he seeks an exemption from the requirement in 49 
CFR 380.713 that a training provider use instructors who meet the 
definition of ``theory instructor'' in 49 CFR 380.605. Mr. Towle also 
requests an exemption from the requirement in 49 CFR 380.609 that an 
individual who applies for the first time for a Class A or B commercial 
driver's license (CDL), or who upgrades to a Class A or B CDL, must 
complete training from a provider listed on the Training Provider 
Registry (TPR) as set forth in 49 CFR part 380 subpart G. Mr. Towle 
explains that he is an incarcerated inmate in the New Hampshire State 
Prison. According to Mr. Towle, the New Hampshire Department of 
Corrections operates a Special School District, Granite State High 
School, that provides a CDL training class. Mr. Towle states that the 
requested exemptions would allow eligible students at Granite State 
High School to receive the requisite theory instruction in order to 
obtain their Commercial Learner's Permit as a step towards job-
readiness as part of their community re-entry plan.
    A copy of Robert Towle's application for exemption is available for 
review in the docket for this notice.

IV. Request for Comments

    In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31315(b), FMCSA requests public 
comment from all interested persons on Robert Towle's application for 
two exemptions from the ELDT regulations, as described above. All 
comments received before the close of business on the comment closing 
date indicated at the beginning of this notice will be considered and 
will be available for examination in the docket at the location listed 
under the ADDRESSES section of this notice. Comments received after the 
comment closing date will be filed in the public docket and will be 
considered to the extent practicable. In addition to late comments, 
FMCSA will also continue to file, in the public docket, relevant 
information that becomes available after the comment closing date. 
Interested persons should continue to examine the public docket for new 
material.

Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2022-26129 Filed 11-30-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P


