🕒 Last updated on November 12, 2025
In August 2025, inspectors in Clark County, Nevada, made a shocking discovery beneath Las Vegas streets. Workers from The Boring Company, owned by Elon Musk, were caught dumping toxic drilling fluids into city sewer manholes. When officials ordered them to stop, the workers refused.
The next day, superintendent Filippo Fazzino appeared to comply but resumed dumping after inspectors left. Surveillance confirmed the violation, leading to a $493,297.08 fine on November 8, 2025—one of the largest wastewater penalties Clark County has issued in three years.
County crews removed 12 cubic yards of drilling waste from treatment facilities after contamination spread to two sites. The fluids contained MasterRoc AGA 41S, a chemical that causes severe burns, which many workers had already suffered while handling it without safety gear. Officials described the violations as “egregious” and said they caused “substantial damage” to public systems.
Pattern of Violations and Worker Injuries
Six weeks later, on September 22, 2025, Nevada regulators issued a cease-and-desist letter citing nearly 800 environmental violations by The Boring Company over two years. These included starting work without approval, releasing untreated water onto streets, and failing to install barriers.
The state imposed an additional $242,800 fine, bringing total penalties to about $736,000. Regulators described the conduct as “repeated and systematic non-compliance.”
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The violations occurred during construction of the Vegas Loop, Musk’s plan to dig 68 miles of tunnels with 104 stations linking major resorts, downtown Las Vegas, and the airport. The project began in 2021 with a 0.8-mile route costing $47 million and now spans 5.76 miles with eight stations.
A 2022 compliance agreement, following earlier groundwater discharge violations, required The Boring Company to hire an independent environmental manager. Inspectors later found the company never hired one, missing 689 inspections and committing nearly 100 new breaches of the settlement.
In June 2023, Nevada OSHA reported that 15–20 tunnel workers suffered chemical burns from standing in two-foot-deep sludge containing the same toxic chemical. Some injuries left permanent scars. OSHA cited the company for lacking protective equipment and training.
On September 10, 2025, just weeks after the dumping, a worker was seriously injured in a tunnel near the airport. Clark County Fire dispatched an 18-person crew to lift the worker with a crane and transport him to Sunrise Hospital. Nevada OSHA investigated, temporarily halting tunneling.
In April 2024, the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health named The Boring Company in its “Dirty Dozen” list of the most dangerous U.S. employers, citing chemical burns, crushed limbs, and disregard for worker safety.
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Hidden Expansion and Political Support
Despite repeated violations, the Vegas Loop retained support from former Mayor Carolyn Goodman and major casinos. Goodman voiced safety concerns but still voted to approve expansions, citing requests from hotels seeking faster airport access.
Because the project is privately funded, it avoids the federal environmental reviews required for public infrastructure. County records show The Boring Company hid expansion plans by filing under obscure LLC names, including “UC-23-0126-HCI-CERBERUS 160 EAST FLAMINGO HOTEL OWNER L P.”
In mid-2025, assistant roads manager Dean Mosher documented unmarked trucks spilling mud and debris on streets and said the company’s route reports were “totally false.” Water quality manager John Solvie questioned whether permits should be revoked, noting fines were minor compared to the company’s $5.675 billion valuation. However, county records show no permits were withdrawn.
Videos from June and August 2025 showed Boring trucks spilling waste onto public roads, reinforcing a record of poor environmental control.
The $493,297 Clark County fine and $242,800 Nevada penalty represent the largest enforcement actions against The Boring Company to date. With nearly 800 violations in two years, illegal dumping, and repeated safety breaches, the Vegas Loop has become the center of what officials describe as a $7.5 billion environmental scandal beneath the bright lights of Las Vegas.