Designation of Areas for Air Quality Planning Purposes; Maryland; Determination of Nonattainment and Reclassification of the Baltimore 1997 8-Hour Ozone Nonattainment Area

EPA is making a determination that the Baltimore moderate 8- hour ozone nonattainment area (the Baltimore Area) did not attain the 1997 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) by its June 15, 2011 attainment date. The attainment date for moderate ozone nonattainment areas was June 15, 2010. However, the Baltimore Area qualified for a 1-year extension of its attainment date and EPA extended the area's attainment date to June 15, 2011. This determination is based on EPA's review of complete, quality assured, and certified ambient air quality monitoring data for the 2008-2010 monitoring period that are available in the EPA Air Quality System (AQS) database. As a result of this determination, the Baltimore Area is reclassified by operation of law as a serious 8-hour ozone nonattainment area for the 1997 8-hour ozone standard. Consequently, the State of Maryland must submit State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions for the Baltimore Area to meet the Clean Air Act (CAA) requirements for serious ozone nonattainment areas. In this action, EPA is setting the due date for the State of Maryland to submit the necessary SIP revisions to EPA as no later than September 30, 2012. The serious area attainment date for the Baltimore Area is as expeditiously as practicable, but not later than June 15, 2013. This action is being taken under the CAA.