A comparison of the inorganic leachate quality from spent shale samples compacted by coproduced retort water is presented. Leachates were generated by two extraction methods, the ASTM Method D3987 and the EPA/RCRA Extraction Procedure (EPA-EP). Samples were analyzed for arsenic, selenium, cadmium, lead, boron, chromium, molybdenum, sulfates and chlorides. Comparison of all the leachates quality with the maximum allowable limits defined by RCRA indicate that arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead and selenium concentration are well within these limits. Retort water compacted spent shales extracted by the ASTM method produced leachates containing chromium, lead, selenium and sulfate concentration in excess of drinking water standards. Concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, selenium and sulfate in EPA-EP leachates of spent shales compacted with retort water also exceeded drinking water standards. 30 refs., 13 figs., 10 tabs.