Determination of Nonattainment as of November 15, 1996, and Reclassification of the St. Louis Ozone Nonattainment Area; States of Missouri and Illinois

EPA is finalizing its finding that the St. Louis ozone nonattainment area (hereinafter referred to as the St. Louis area) failed to attain the 1-hour ozone national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS or standard) by November 15, 1996, the attainment date for moderate nonattainment areas set forth in the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act). By operation of law, the St. Louis area is to be reclassified from a moderate to a serious nonattainment area on the effective date of this rule. In addition, EPA is requiring Missouri and Illinois to submit State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions addressing the CAA's pollution control requirements for serious ozone nonattainment areas within 12 months of the effective date of this rule and establishing November 15, 2004, as the date by which the St. Louis area must attain the ozone NAAQS. In a separate document entitled "Proposed Effective Date Modification for Determination of Nonattainment as of November 15, 1996, and Reclassification of the St. Louis Ozone Nonattainment Area; States of Missouri and Illinois," published elsewhere in today's Federal Register, EPA is proposing to delay the effective date of this rule until June 29, 2001. In that document, EPA also sets forth its intent to propose to withdraw this final determination and reclassification, if EPA grants the states an attainment date extension before the effective date of this reclassification rule. Missouri and Illinois are in the concluding stage of a process that could culminate in EPA final action on an attainment date extension. This extension, if granted, would allow the area to remain classified as a moderate nonattainment area. EPA is continuing to work to complete action on the extension request by June 29, 2001. If EPA takes final action to extend the attainment date during the pre-effective period of this rule, EPA intends to withdraw this final determination and reclassification prior to the time that they become effective. In an Order issued January 29, 2001,