Approval and Promulgation of State Implementation Plans (SIP) for the State of AlabamaCall for 1-hour Attainment Demonstration for the Birmingham, Alabama Marginal Ozone Nonattainment Area

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EPA is proposing a State Implementation Plan (SIP) call to require the State of Alabama to submit a 1-hour ozone attainment SIP for the Birmingham marginal nonattainment area within six months of final action on the SIP call. EPA is proposing to issue this SIP call, because violations of the 1-hour ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) have continued to be recorded in the Birmingham area after the required attainment date of November 15, 1993. Exceedances of the 1-hour ozone NAAQS occurred in the Birmingham area during the 1995, 1996, 1997, and 1998 ozone seasons. There are more than 3 exceedances of the 1-hour ozone NAAQS during the most recent 3 year period (96-98), indicating continuing violations of the NAAQS. EPA is authorized under section 110(k)(5) of the Clean Air Act (CAA) to issue this SIP call requiring the State of Alabama to develop a 1-hour ozone attainment SIP revision for the Birmingham area. If the State of Alabama fails to submit an attainment SIP in response to this SIP call, EPA will issue a finding that the State failed to submit a required SIP pursuant to section 179(a) of the CAA. The finding would start the clocks for mandatory sanctions and d