This action permanently aligns the timing of certain consequences of state air quality planning failures under EPA's transportation conformity rule with the imposition of Clean Air Act highway sanctions. For ozone nonattainment areas with an incomplete 15% emissions-reduction state implementation plan with a protective finding; incomplete ozone attainment/3% rate-of-progress plan; or finding of failure to submit an ozone attainment/3% rate-of-progress plan; and areas whose control strategy implementation plan for ozone, carbon monoxide, particulate matter, or nitrogen dioxide is disapproved with a protective finding, the conformity status of the transportation plan and program will not lapse as a result of such failure until highway sanctions for such failure are effective under other Clean Air Act sections. This action makes permanent the interim final rule issued on February 8, 1995 (60 FR 7449), which was effective for only six months. The lapse in conformity status which this action delays for some areas would otherwise prevent approval of new highway and transit projects.