SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Environmental groups are calling for faster action after two dozen steel oil drums were found leaking an orange and yellow substance along the side of a road near Stansbury Island.

They have remained for more than a month.

KUTV first reported the presence of the drums shortly after Thanksgiving. At that time, the Utah Department of Environmental Quality said it was investigating how the drums ended up there. More than a month later, concerns are growing about the potential environmental and public health risks.

“Over the last month, maybe month and a half, I’ve been driving out here, I’ve noticed them,” said Zen Rhees, who frequently travels through the area. “It is frustrating to see that it’s just left here.”

Environmental advocates share that frustration. Dr. Brian Moench with Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment said the length of time the drums have remained at the site is troubling, especially given recent weather conditions.

“We’ve had a fair amount of moisture, a fair amount of rain in the last few weeks,” Moench said. “Whatever is in there is seeping into the ground.”

The Tooele County Health Department has now taken charge of cleanup and removal efforts. In a statement to KUTV, the department said the contracted company determined the substance inside the drums to be non-hazardous. However, they said local landfills are unable to accept the drums.

“If it’s really non-hazardous, why couldn’t it go to a regular landfill?” Moench said. “Something doesn’t quite add up there.”

Moench and other advocates are urging officials to be transparent about what exactly is inside the drums, noting that classifications can vary.

“What Clean Harbors may consider non-hazardous may not match what environmentalists and public health advocates consider non-hazardous,” Moench said.

While residents worry that leaving the drums in place could set a dangerous precedent, “I think someone sees that and now they think it is okay to leave whatever else at the shooting range, and it’s just a snowball effect from there,” Rhees said.

Another environmental group, HEAL Utah, stated that it would like to see increased industry regulation and more funding for cleanup efforts to prevent situations like this in the future.

The Tooele County Health Department said it is finalizing arrangements for the cleanup, while the Utah Department of Environmental Quality continues to investigate who left the drums at the site and why.

The Tooele County Health Department’s statement can be read below:

“Tooele County Health Department is actively working to ensure the proper removal and disposal of the drums located near the Great Salt Lake. The materials were evaluated by Clean Harbors, a contracted environmental and industrial services company, and have been deemed non-hazardous. While the local landfill is unable to accept the drums, we are finalizing arrangements with an appropriate disposal facility. Once confirmed, the drums will be removed promptly.

We are hopeful this process will be completed later this week and will continue to monitor the situation to ensure it is handled safely and responsibly.”

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