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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Docket ID: [Docket No. FMCSA-2008-0272]

NOTICE: NOTICES

ACTION: Meetings:

DOCUMENT ACTION: Notice of Medical Review Board (MRB) Public Meeting.

SUBJECT CATEGORY: Medical Review Board Public Meeting

DATES: The MRB meeting will be held from 9 a.m.-12:45 p.m. on Monday, October 6, 2008. Please refer to the preliminary agenda for this meeting in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice for specific information.

DOCUMENT SUMMARY: FMCSA announces a public meeting of the Agency's MRB. The MRB public meeting will provide the public an opportunity to observe and participate in MRB deliberations about FMCSA's medical standards, in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA).

SUMMARY: Medical Review Board,

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

The preliminary agenda for the meeting includes:
09000920 Call to Order, Introduction and Agenda Review
09200930 Medical Review Board (MRB) Administrative Discussion 09301000 Hearing and Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) Driver Safety Evidence Report
10001015 Public Comment on Hearing and CMV Driver Safety
10151030 MRB Deliberations on Hearing and CMV Driver Safety 10301100 Psychiatric Disorders and CMV Driver SafetyEvidence Report Findings
11001130 MRB Discussions on Psychiatric Disorders and CMV Driver Safety
11301200 MRB Discussions on Stroke and CMV Driver Safety
12001230 Public Comment on Psychiatric and Stroke Disorders and CMV Driver Safety
1245 Call to Adjourn
* Breaks will be announced on meeting day and may be adjusted according to schedule changes, other meeting requirements.

Background

The U.S. Secretary of Transportation announced on March 7, 2006, the five medical experts who serve on FMCSA's Medical Review Board (MRB). Section 4116 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEALU, Public Law 10959) requires the Secretary of Transportation with the advice of the MRB to ``establish, review, and revise medical standards for operators of Commercial Motor Vehicles (CMVs) that will ensure that the physical condition of operators is adequate to enable them to operate the vehicles safely.'' FMCSA is planning updates to the physical qualification regulations of CMV drivers, and the MRB will provide the necessary sciencebased guidance to establish realistic and responsible medical standards.

The MRB operates in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) as announced in the Federal Register (70 FR 57642, October 3, 2005). The MRB is charged initially with the review of all current FMCSA medical standards (49 CFR 391.41), as well as making recommendations for new sciencebased standards and guidelines to ensure that drivers operating CMVs in interstate commerce, as defined in CFR 390.5, are physically capable of doing so.

Meeting Participation

Attendance is open to the interested public, including medical examiners,
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motor carriers, drivers, and representatives of medical and scientific associations. Written comments for this MRB meeting will also be accepted beginning on September 9, 2008 and continuing until October 20, 2008, and should include the docket ID that is listed in the ADDRESSES section.

During the MRB meeting (12001230), oral comments may be limited depending on how many persons wish to comment; and will be accepted on a first come, first serve basis as requestors register at the meeting. The comments must directly address relevant medical and scientific issues on the MRB meeting agenda. For more information, please view the following Web site: http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/mrb.

Issued on: September 3, 2008.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy and Program Development. [FR Doc. E820887 Filed 9808; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910EXP

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Dr. Mary D. Gunnels, Director, Medical Programs, (202) 3664001, fmcsamedical@dot.gov, FMCSA, Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Room W64224, Washington, DC 205900001. Office hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

Information on Services for Individuals With Disabilities: For information on facilities or services for individuals with disabilities or to request special assistance at the meeting, contact Jennifer Musick at 7039980189 ext. 237.