Pat -
You mis-read the article - calm down now.

They said:
So the National Science Foundation will explore that critical
environment - if Congress approves the $17.4 million project - as
early as next year. As part of project EarthScope, quake
researchers hope to create a geological "microscope" by drilling
a hole beside the San Andreas at one of its most active regions,
turning their drill 45[degrees] at 11/2 miles deep, and then
boring right through the fault. This would give scientists their
first direct access to an earthquake-initiation site, where they
could set up monitors to observe changes in temperature, fluid
pressure, gas composition and all the other vital signs of
geological activity.

Nothing there says they are going to attempt to trigger a quake. They even admit that if they tried it could backfire and that would be the end of their jobs.