When workplace safety citations suddenly disappear, it tends to raise eyebrows. Now the federal government wants answers about why Nevada OSHA withdrew three citations against Elon Musk's Boring Company.

Why the Feds Are Getting Involved

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration has confirmed it received a complaint about Nevada OSHA and launched a federal review, according to Fortune. The investigation will determine whether the state agency is meeting federal requirements that mandate it be "at least as effective" as the federal regulator.

Here's where things get messy. Nevada OSHA maintains the citations were withdrawn because they didn't meet legal requirements and were therefore invalid. But lawyers and state regulators are pushing back, arguing the withdrawal violated standard OSHA procedures. That's not a small disagreement—it goes to the heart of whether the rules apply equally to everyone.

The controversy has drawn political heat. Nevada Congresswoman Dina Titus has called for Governor Joe Lombardo to be held accountable and demanded more transparency around the Boring Company's dealings with state regulators.

The Vanishing Meeting Records

This federal probe follows some curious developments last November. Records of a meeting between Boring Company officials and Governor Lombardo's office mysteriously disappeared after discussions about OSHA citations took place. The tunneling startup had been facing over $400,000 in fines, which were rescinded following that meeting. Then the meeting records vanished, according to Fortune.

The workplace safety issues weren't the company's only regulatory headache that month. The Boring Company was also hit with nearly $500,000 in fines for environmental violations in Nevada. A county environmental regulator imposed those penalties after the company caused significant infrastructure damage by dumping drilling fluids into Las Vegas manholes.

Moving Forward Despite Challenges

Despite the regulatory scrutiny, the Boring Company continues advancing its Nevada projects. The company plans to open its first tunnel connection to Las Vegas' Harry Reid International Airport in 2026, with projected capacity to transport over 20,000 passengers per hour.

The Boring Company did not respond to requests for comment.