US agency accuses The Boring Company of violating environmental regulations
The Boring Company has dug beneath Las Vegas since 2021. According to an environmental agency, it paid little attention to environmental regulations.
Vegas Loop
(Image: The Boring Company)
Trouble for The Boring Company: An environmental agency in the US state of Nevada accuses Elon Musk's tunnel construction company of numerous violations of environmental regulations. This is reported by US media, citing a letter from the authority.
In it, the Bureau of Water Pollution Control lists violations of environmental and other regulations. These included repeatedly carrying out excavation work without a permit, directing untreated water from underground onto the road, or mud leaking from the company's trucks onto the road.
According to the letter, the water authority had already imposed a fine on The Boring Company in 2020 for similar offenses. Both parties then reached a settlement to ensure the company would comply with environmental regulations.
The Boring Company refuses inspection
However, this was apparently not a reason for The Boring Company to change its behavior: the water authority accuses the company of around 100 new violations. Furthermore, it has not commissioned an independent body for regular inspections of the construction sites as agreed. The authority counted nearly 690 missed inspections.
For these offenses, the Ministry of Environment has imposed a fine of nearly 243,000 US dollars. The company denies the allegations, the ministry told local media City Cast Las Vegas. The payment is not due until the proceedings are concluded. However, the ministry reserves the right to order the company to cease construction activities.
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The Boring Company, founded by Elon Musk, announced in 2020 to build a tunnel system connecting the old Las Vegas Convention Center with the expansion building. In the tunnel, Tesla electric cars are to transport visitors from one end of the exhibition center to the other. In 2021, the tunnel went into operation. In 2023, the company received approval for an expansion of the tunnel system. Meanwhile, tunnels also connect the Convention Center with some neighboring hotels. There are plans to connect the entire “Strip” with the major hotels and the nearby airport.
(wpl)
