EPA is disapproving a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Maryland, and is issuing a protective finding for that plan pursuant to EPA's transportation conformity rule. The intended effect of this action is to disapprove Maryland's attainment plan for the Metropolitan Washington, DC severe 1-hour ozone nonattainment area (the Washington area) and to issue a protective finding which allows the motor vehicle emissions budgets identified in that plan to be used in future conformity determinations. This action allows transportation planning activities, including conformity analyses and determinations, to continue normally until such time as highway sanctions would be imposed pursuant to the Clean Air Act (the CAA or the Act) and EPA's order of sanctions rule.