The Boring Company has been fined nearly $500,000 after environmental regulators in Clark County, Nevada, determined that the company illegally dumped drilling fluids into manholes around Las Vegas, causing significant damage to county infrastructure.
According to a notice of violation issued by the Clark County Water Reclamation District (CCWRD), The Boring Company employees were observed this summer discharging drilling fluids into the sewer system and refusing to stop when inspectors arrived at the site.
Regulators say the company only halted operations after being ordered to do so—then resumed dumping once inspectors left the area.
The CCWRD reported that it had to remove 12 cubic yards of drilling mud, spoils, and waste from one of its treatment facilities, at a cost exceeding $130,000. The fine, totaling $493,297.08, includes reimbursement for cleanup expenses and was described as reflecting “the egregious nature of the violations, the substantial damage to district infrastructure, and the company’s acknowledgement of responsibility.” (via Fortune)
The dumped fluids are believed to include MasterRoc AGA 41S, a tunneling additive known to cause chemical burns upon direct contact with skin. The mixture typically accumulates as a byproduct of the company’s tunnel-boring operations, where it gathers at the bottom of the tunnels during drilling.
The latest notice follows an anonymous tip received on August 12, which prompted CCWRD inspectors to visit two project sites. When ordered to stop discharging fluids, company representatives initially complied but then “feigned compliance”, reconnecting pipes after assuming officials had left.
During a September hearing, company executives acknowledged the violations and agreed not to expand operations to new drilling sites until certain environmental conditions are met.
The CCWRD noted that only one other company has received a wastewater-related fine exceeding $100,000 in the past three years. The agency said its enforcement action aims to prevent further harm to county infrastructure and ensure the company complies with federal and local environmental regulations as it continues expanding its underground transportation network.
