Experts React to The Boring Company's Music City Loop Environmental Impact Assessment

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — On Tuesday night, the Metro Council is considering a measure that would formally oppose the Music City Loop project. This comes after The Boring Company, owned by Elon Musk, released what it claims is a third-party environmental impact assessment for the project.

The release of the environmental impact assessment has sparked mixed reactions from local officials. Sean Parker, a Metro Councilmember for District 5, expressed skepticism about the report. "Initial reaction is skepticism," he said. "I mean, their track record of actually delivering these projects where they have proposed to do them is not great."

Sandy Ewing, a Metro Councilmember for District 43, also raised concerns about the report's impartiality. "I think in some instances, the company assessing did not go far enough, so they made some statements that sounded to me more like a promotion for the company rather than the words and assessment of a company that is a neutral third party," she told News 2.

In July, The Boring Company announced plans for the Music City Loop, a roughly 9.5-mile tunnel system designed to connect downtown Nashville, the Capitol, the Music City Center, and the Nashville International Airport with potential future stops. However, the project has faced criticism from some Metro Councilmembers who feel they have not been adequately involved in the discussions.

The environmental impact assessment was conducted by the Davey Resource Group and reviewed by a third party, UES. The assessment concluded that the tunnel would have a less than significant impact on noise, vibrations, waste, health and safety, or local waterways and wildlife.

Professor Mark Abolins, a geosciences expert at Middle Tennessee State University, noted that the report highlighted the company's plan to tunnel at a substantial depth. "The deeper you go, all things being equal, the fewer problems will happen," he said. According to the assessment, the tunnel would be built 30 to 60 feet below ground, reducing risks to structures, water sources, and wildlife.

Abolins acknowledged that while the report does not have major concerns, it leaves room for some uncertainty. "Even with all these advanced techniques, sending waves into the ground, and all this drilling and advanced and so on as they are drilling into the tunnel, they may encounter the unexpected," he said.

The study states that construction would run 24/7 for up to two years. It added that subsurface noise and vibrations are expected to remain well below levels that could cause structural damage. Any surface-level noise would be consistent with the use of excavators or dump trucks.

Groundwater encountered during tunneling would be discharged where permitted, and any contaminants found in the water were determined to pose no risk to human health or the environment. "The report is saying there aren’t going to be significant problems," Abolins said. "I was delighted to see the mention of grout, which is commonly employed in these kinds of tunneling situations to kind of seal off the tunnel."

Despite these findings, a resolution before the Metro Council called on the city to formally oppose the project. The resolution cites concerns over a lack of transparency, limited community engagement, and questions about labor and safety practices.

"This won’t stop or prevent the Music City Loop from being pursued, but I think it’s important to sort of correct the record as a body on the level of engagement or support that this has from the Metro Council," Parker said.

Ewing suggested that having The Boring Company come and speak with a joint committee meeting of the budget committee and the transportation and infrastructure committee would be an excellent path forward. "I also think that there is a great need to have more public engagement," she said. "I know this company has expressed reluctance to have large, public meetings, but honestly, sometimes that is what needs to be done."

On Tuesday night, the Metro Council decided to defer the vote on The Boring Company’s Music City Loop to the next meeting, which is set for Jan. 20, 2026.