Las Vegas , 07 February (H.S.): Nevada legislators on Tuesday subjected state safety regulators to intense questioning regarding persistent workplace hazards and environmental infractions at Elon Musk's Boring Company tunnels, known as the Vegas Loop, amid accusations that the firm operates with impunity.

The marathon hearing exposed a litany of concerns surrounding the subterranean network, first operational in 2021, which shuttles passengers via Tesla vehicles beneath the Las Vegas Convention Center—offering gratis rides there and paid trips ($4-$12) to hotels, casinos, and the airport.

Approved for expansion to 68 miles (109 km) of tunnels and 104 stations, the project aims to alleviate transit woes in a city bereft of robust public options, even as Mayor Shelley Berkley hailed a fresh downtown permit in January as an innovative transportation option.

Assemblymember Howard Watts (D), whose district encompasses the site, lambasted the company for act[ing] like they are kind of above the law and want[ing] to play by their own set of rules. Boring Company executives skipped the session but submitted written defenses touting daily inspections and safety training.

Alarming Incident Log and Mounting Fines

Between 2020 and 2026, Nevada OSHA logged 17 complaints, one prompting an inspection that yielded eight citations—including burns to 15-20 workers from accelerants sans decontamination showers. Several probes linger; the firm has disbursed nearly $600,000 in penalties, predominantly to the local water district for raw sewage discharge, while contesting $355,000 more with OSHA and environmental authorities. ProPublica documented nearly 800 eco breaches last year alone.

A stark September 2025 episode underscored perils: a worker endured a crushing injury, trapped between 4,000-pound pipes, necessitating crane extraction by firefighters. The company affirmed the employee's stable condition and internal review, prioritizing safety and well-being.

Expansion Pressures and Broader Backlash

Scrutiny mirrors Nashville's Music City Loop construction, greenlit despite local qualms over safety, opacity, and input deficits. There, Nevada retracted $425,000+ in fines from a May 2025 drill injuring two firefighters chemically—OSHA counsel Salli Ortiz cited procedural lapses by responders, not the firm, post-six pre-drill safety huddles.

Democratic voices assailed GOP Governor Joe Lombardo's administration for leniency; Department of Business and Industry Director Kris Sanchez rebutted claims of external sway.

User sentiment splits: Convention-goers like San Diego's Devin Newcomb rave about seamless navigation, especially during CES, while Florida's Samantha Mingola frets over collapse risks and Musk's oversight. Watts eyes 2027 legislation to expedite violation probes and curtail appeals.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar