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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Lawrence et al:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>There is no objection to
performance based building designs; particularly if the building owner is
allowed to decide the minimum and maximum goals. However, this is not the
thrust of “<b>Societal Implications of Performance-Based Earthquake Engineering”</b>.
Rather, it pre-supposes that the benefit of the society and the
individual are one in the same and looks for the government to mandate seismic
mitigation for purposes beyond life safety. The essence of the paper
hints at the use of private property for the benefit of the public and assumes
the primary objective of private owners (as opposed to buildings owned by
the government) is to benefit society. The government can claim the right to
mandate safety but how does the government obtain the right to dictate minimum
risk in the reduction of private property loss? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>In the New Madrid Seismic
Zone the public has never considered life safety a “murky goal;”
and would consider limiting economic loss if a favorable cost benefit relation
can be established. In the New Madrid Seismic Zone this has yet to be shown;
it’s likely never to be done given the absence of severe or strong ground
motion. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>If seismic hazard mitigation
were inexpensive (per the stated claim) and if the building owner could realize
a favorable cost benefit relationship “transformation in
perspectives” wouldn’t be needed. Savvy individuals would have
already acted and there would be little need for government mandates. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Conversely, creating
artificial incentives, presumably through government mandates, would create
avoidance by postponing private development, relocation to more favorable
areas, or out and out cheating. Similar responses have been experienced
with LEED programs where the incentive is political instead of economic. Few
LEED programs are economically based but those that are usually owe their
solvency to federal grants.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>“<b>Societal
Implications of Performance-Based Earthquake Engineering” </b>pretends
that improved risk management can overcome the raw physics of restraining huge
masses set in motion on top of an inverted pendulum. The benefits offered in
the paper are intangible and bears little resemblance to the real world
economics confronting any prospective new building owner.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Joseph Tomasello, PE</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>5880 Ridge Bend Rd.</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Memphis, TN 38120</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#1F497D'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Phone:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>(901) 761-2016 office</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>(901) 821-4968 direct</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>(901) 412-8217 mobile</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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