Whitehorse bylaw officers are working to track down the owner or owners of five residential fuel tanks discovered in the McRae subdivision close to the Yukon River.

The bylaw department was informed last Friday about the fuel tanks left in the area.

They received a call from Environment Yukon officials who had received a report from someone who was in the area and came across them.

Senior bylaw officer Tom Wyers said Tuesday officers went to the area to take an initial look.

They determined that before the tanks could be properly disposed of, they would have to look at whether any of them had any oil or fuel remaining in them.

“We have to assess any leaking,” Wyers said, noting that an officer was set to be on the scene Tuesday to begin that work.

Once that’s done, any remaining oil would be drained and disposed of safely, with the oil tanks also disposed of according to regulations.

Wyers noted the city will also be looking at charges under the city’s waste management bylaw around illegal dumping.

In an email correspondence, Environment Yukon spokeswoman Roxanne Stasyszen said because the tanks are within municipal boundaries, they are under the jurisdiction of city bylaw officials and constitute an illegal dumping situation.

It won’t be known if there’s been any spill until after the tanks have been removed, Stasyszen noted.

At that point, there will be an assessment to look at possible contamination.