Because we received adverse comments, EPA is withdrawing the direct final rule to approve Maryland's Post-1996 Rate-of-Progress plan for the Cecil County portion of the Philadelphia-Wilmington-Trenton severe ozone nonattainment area. In the direct final rule published on February 3, 2000 (65 FR 5252), we stated that if we received adverse comment by March 6, 2000, we would publish a timely withdrawal in the Federal Register. EPA subsequently received adverse comments. We will address those comments in a final rule based upon the proposed rule also published on February 3, 2000 (65 FR 5296). As stated in the parallel proposal, EPA will not institute a second comment period on this action.