San Andreas Fault Repairs

With a dose of political calculus that boggles the mind, Governor Schwarzenegger and the California legislature have launched a project to eliminate earthquakes and help balance the budget at the same time. By their calculations, this will save the state just over 4 billion dollars per year and cost only a fourth of that. In addition, business and individuals will collectively save another 4 billion in avoided damage costs due to earthquakes.

Pete Beloue (D, Sonoma), said, “The idea sounds crazy, but the economics are totally sound. Repairing damage done by quakes is incredibly expensive. So is making buildings earthquake-proof. If we eliminate quakes, we avoid future damages and then we can relax the building codes, which just extends the cost savings.”

The first phase of the Earthquake Elimination Project (EEP) will paid by an across-the-board reduction in the entire budget. Ultimately, it will be funded from corporate taxes. The estimated cost of the first phase is 570 million dollars.

The solution is deceptively simple – just lubricate the fault zone so the two sides will slide smoothly instead of rupturing suddenly in an earthquake. In fact, some parts of the fault already move smoothly and no earthquakes originate in those zones.

Pulling this off is a bit more complicated. It starts by drilling a hole into the fault zone. Then, using a method called hydro-fracturing, or fracking, water is pumped into the hole under high pressure until the rock suddenly cracks in many places. In this case, the water will be replaced with a custom drilling mud made mostly of talcum. Yes, that’s what I said, talcum – baby powder.

The theory is that the broken rock, now surrounded by talcum mud, will then become slippery and the sides of the fault will slide past each other easily. If this is done at very many places along the fault, the fault will become permanently lubricated. Earthquakes will cease.

In the first phase, the zones to be lubricated will be those areas with the highest strain at this time. Those are the places are mostly likely to create earthquakes. Expert geologists will prioritize these zones. Over the course of twenty years, the entire fault will be treated.

At one point this massive project was almost derailed by one politico. Representative Joe Hurley (R, San Diego) was pressing for the selection of Outback Mining as the sole supplier of the talcum. This Australian company was very nearly chosen but for the last hour intervention of some courageous watchdogs.

These dedicated sentinels pointed out that ample supplies of talcum were already available in California. Indeed, several lie along the fault itself, in those regions where it moves smoothly. Furthermore, Hurley is a part owner of Outback Mining – a clear case of conflict of interest.

These revelations removed objections about foreign interests, and ultimately lead to a recall of Hurley. The availability of local sources of talcum were seen as a big plus, and the Governator jumped all over it. Said Governor Schwarzenegger, “We have, right here in California, enough talcum to powder every baby bottom in all of North and South America. We will not import baby powder from Australia to powder the bottom of the San Andreas fault.”

Red Doge – Would I lie to you?