EPA to Visit Pendleton Oil Mill Site Next Week

Updated 2  p.m.

The United States Environment Protection Agency will be returning to the Pendleton Oil Site on May 30-31 to complete assessment sampling of surface soil at the property. The agency has attempted to contact John Sitton, the owner of the site, without success.

Last year Sitton was ordered to cleanup the crumbling buildings on the 6-acre site, and a judge ordered the property to be sold to pay debts/liens against the property.

Pendleton Mayor Frank Crenshaw said he has been in communication with the EPA and hopes eventually the site will be cleared.

Crenshaw also said he is dubious there would be many buyers for the land because the the cost of cleaning it up and hauling off the debris. He said if federal funds and other help becomes available, the land might be useful to the community.

The mill has produced fertilizer and cotton seed oil over the years, and EPA's visit next week wil help determine what, if any, other cleanup is required at the site.