Clean Air Act Reclassification; Arizona-Phoenix Nonattainment Area; Ozone

EPA is finding that the Phoenix nonattainment area (Maricopa County, Arizona) has not attained the 1-hour ozone national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) by the applicable attainment date in the Clean Air Act (CAA) for moderate ozone nonattainment areas, November 15, 1996. EPA is also denying Arizona's application for a one-year extension of the November 15, 1996 attainment date for the Phoenix area. The finding and denial are based on EPA's review of monitored air quality data from 1994 through 1996 for compliance with the 1-hour ozone NAAQS. As a result of the finding and denial, the Phoenix ozone nonattainment area will be reclassified by operation of law as a serious ozone nonattainment area on the effective date of this action. The effect of the reclassification will be to continue progress toward attainment of the 1-hour ozone NAAQS through the development of a new State implementation plan (SIP), due 12 months from the effective date of this action, addressing attainment of that standard by November 15, 1999.