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Elon Musk’s Boring Company faces hefty fine after ‘fake compliance’ stunt
Boring Company is facing serious backlash after being fined nearly $500,000 in Las Vegas
Elon Musk’s Boring Company is facing serious backlash after being fined nearly $500,000 for repeatedly dumping drilling fluids into Las Vegas.
The fine was issued by the Clark County Water Reclamation District (CCWRD), which accused the tunnelling firm of causing “substantial damage” to county infrastructure.
According to a formal notice of violation, CCWRD inspectors visited one of Boring’s project sites this summer and ordered employees to stop discharging drilling wastewater into the sewer system.
Instead of following the directive, staff reportedly continued the dumping. The following day, inspectors claim the company “feigned compliance,” halting operations only temporarily before resuming once a manager believed regulators had left the area.
The illegal discharges forced CCWRD crews to clean out roughly 12 cubic yards of drilling mud, spoils, and solid waste from a sewage treatment facility.
Notably, the waste originated from two Boring Company sites operating in central Las Vegas.
The fluids referenced in the notice include the slurry and chemical mixture that collects at the bottom of tunnels during excavation.
These liquids can contain compounds such as MasterRoc AGA 41S, a chemical known to burn skin upon direct contact.
Former workers have previously reported chemical burns from handling the tunnel slurry without proper protection.
The violation adds to the growing scrutiny surrounding Musk’s tunnelling venture, which has been attempting to expand its footprint in Las Vegas.