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

This rule finalizes and makes effective EPA's 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). As a result of this finding, the St. Louis area is reclassified from a moderate to a serious 1-hour ozone nonattainment area by operation of law, effective as of the date of publication. In addition, EPA is establishing a schedule for 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 is establishing November 15, 2004, as the date by which the St. Louis area must attain the ozone NAAQS.