NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — The Boring Company said the Music City Loop would benefit the environment, despite concerns from outside groups and issues in Las Vegas.

CEO Steve Davis said a third-party environmental impact analysis (EIA) will be released no later than December 15th.

Although Davis said there won’t be any environmental issues, since the company was reportedly fined nearly half a million dollars for violations in Las Vegas, some people are skeptical.

The Music City Loop, by the Boring Company, is on the horizon, but the underground tunnel proposed to stretch from Downtown Nashville to the airport has raised concerns that it’ll negatively impact the environment.

In a public Q&A on X from November 24th, Davis argues the opposite.

“The tunneling is probably the environmentally best possible way to build,” he said.

In the audio, Davis claimed the tunnel will lower greenhouse emissions and improve air quality.

“Positive impact in transportation and air quality, greenhouse gas reduction, economic growth, etc,” he said.

However, Metro Council member Sandy Ewing doesn’t buy it.

“Well, when they say things like this, this won’t impact the environment, or it will actually be good for the environment, there’s no evidence based on their one project that actually has moved forward that this is going to be true,” she said.

That project she is referring to is the Boring Company’s tunnel in Las Vegas.

Photo from Elon Musk’s The Boring Company depicts an underground tunnel loop system. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced Monday, July 28, 2025 that plans are in the works for a tunnel from Nashville International Airport to downtown. (Photo: The Boring Company)

Fortune and KTNV reported the company was fined nearly $500,000 for dumping drilling fluids and mud into manholes.

According to Pro-publica, an independent news agency, there have also been accusations of more than 800 environmental infractions in the last two years against the company.

This includes digging without permits and wastewater dumped in city sewage systems.

Ewing fears the same thing will happen in Nashville, and it’ll impact the quality of our water.

“Our storm drains lead directly to our streams, our creeks, and eventually our rivers,” she said.

In the Q and A, Davis also addressed that concern.

“This will have zero effect, zero impact on anything like water quality,” said Davis.

There has also been worry that the limestone might cause water to get into the tunnel.

“Whenever there’s gaps, there can be water,” said Davis, “you locally seal it.”

Marc Abolins is a geoscience professor at MTSU.

“What’s your take on them (the boring company) saying that this won’t likely be an issue?”

“You know, it has been done in other parts of the world, tunneling through this kind of rock,” said Abolins. “So, you know, a way to look at it is that it’s a matter of planning, designing and then constructing to keep the water where it needs to be.”

He said he believes it can be accomplished.

Ewing said she looks forward to the Boring Company’s EIA, but remains skeptical.

FOX 17 News reached out to the Boring Company for an interview, but did not hear back.

We will keep trying.

The Boring Company will have another Q&A. FOX 17 News plans to be a part of it to ask your questions.