NOTICE TO READERS At the request of the Salt Repository Project Office, Argonne National Laboratory carried out a review of a report entitled "Schematic Designs for the Penetration Seals for a Repository in the Permian Basin."* Argonne was asked to consider the assumptions, the interpretation of data, the adequacy of materials, the future activities, the behavior of crushed salt and the sealing design in general. It was our hope that the review panel might identify any deficiencies in material properties or in the designs that may been present. The review report prepared by the Argonne panel has been given to OMWI for their consideration and for transmittal to D'Appolonia.

Documents are being submitted to the Salt Repository Project Office (SRPO) of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) by Battelle Memorial Institute's Office of Nuclear Waste Isolation (ONWI) to satisfy milestones of the Salt Repository Project of the Civilian Radioactive Waste Management Program. Some of these documents are being reviewed by multidisciplinary groups of peers to ensure DOE of their adequacy and credibility. Adequacy of documents refers to their ability to meet the requirements of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, as enunciated in 40 CFR Part 191 and 10 CFR Part 60, respectively, as well as those of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982. Credibility of documents refers to the validity of the assumptions, methods, and conclusions, as well as to the completeness of coverage. Since late 1982, Argonne National Laboratory has been under contract to DOE to conduct multidisciplinary peer reviews of program plans and reports covering research and development activities related to siting and constructing a high-level nuclear waste repository in salt. Site characterization plans (SCPs) being prepared by ONWI are to be reviewed by the Argonne peer review panel. Particular emphasis is to be placed on Sec. 8 of the SCP, which will cover the site characterization program. Because Sec. 8 is the essence of an SCP, it will require a comprehensive, carefully structured review. This report provides background and guidance to panelists to help ensure the success of the peer review process. A draft of this report was sent to SRPO for comment on December 14, 1984, and to 28 peer review panelists on March 19, 1985. This revised version of the report has considered the critiques of the aforementioned parties.

NOTICE TO READERAt the request of the Salt Repository Project Office, Argonne National Laboratory carried out a review of the ONWI Socioeconomic Program Plan. Argonne reviewers were asked to consider whether the plan was appropriate for program needs, if key activities were overlooked, whether the milestone timing and nature of deliverables were appropriate, which milestones were of high priority, and which could be eliminated or deferred.The Socioeconomic Program Plan transmitted to ANL was developed prior to passage of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, and hence, does not reflect appropriate provisions of the Act. The Plan is an internal administrative document of the socioeconomic related activities and how they are coordinated and conducted. It is not a policy document in that it is not used to determine or convey DOE policy. In this light many of the comments resulting from ANL review are not useful. The reviewers assumed this Plan stated policy and covered many activities that are presently a part of SRPO public outreach and state interactions.The Socioeconomic Program Plan is being revised to reflect changes that resulted from passage of the NVIPA.

Documents are being submitted to the Salt Repository Project Office (SRPO) of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) by Battelle Memorial Institute's Office of Nuclear Waste Isolation, by the Texas Bureau of Economic Geology (TBEG), and by other contractors to satisfy milestones of the Salt Repository Project of the Civilian Radioactive Waste Management Program. Some of these documents are being reviewed by multiclisciplinary groups of peers to ensure DOE of their adequacy and credibility. Adequacy of documents refers to their ability to meet specified legal or regulatory requirements. Credibility of documents refers to the validity of the assumptions, methods, and conclusions, as well as to the completeness of coverage. Since late 1982, Argonne National Laboratory has been under contract to DOE to conduct multidisciplinary peer reviews of program plans and reports covering research and development activities related to siting and constricting a mined repository in salt for high-level radioactive waste. The present report summarizes Argonne's review of TBEG's report entitled Petrographies, Stratigraphic,

Basin, Texas," by J.L. Means.* The report describes the organic geochemistry of groundwater samples from the Palo Duro Basin, with analyses and identification of the primary organic constituents. Results from the report are important in assessing radionuciide transport rates in groundwater and Indicating the possible existence and location of petroleum deposits in the Palo Duro Basin. Argonne was asked to consider the appropriateness of the methodology, the conclusions based on data presented, and the adequacy of correlation and integration between geocheeaical interpretation and knowledge of the geologic setting. The Argonne review comments have been provided to the author. These comments, along with other reviews, will greatly aid in the preparation of a revised document of greater clarity and applicability to the program. Jo Ann Sherwin Chief Site Evaluation Salt Repository Project Office *A microfiche copy of the reviewed report is attached to the inside back cover of this report. 35656 FOREWORD Documents are being submitted to the Salt Repository Project Office (SRPO) of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) by Battelle Memorial Institute's Office of Nuclear Waste Isolation (ONWI) to satisfy milestones of the Salt Repository Project of the Civilian Radioactive Waste Management Program. Some of these documents are being reviewed by multidisciplinary groups of peers to ensure DOE of their adequacy and credibility. Adequacy of documents refers to their ability to meet specified legal or regulatory requirements. Credibility of documents refers to the validity of the assumptions, methods, and conclusions, as well as to the completeness of coverage. Since late 1982, Argonne National Laboratory has been under contract to DOE to conduct multidisciplinary peer reviews of program plans and reports covering research and development activities related to siting and constructing a mined repository in salt for high-level radioactive waste. This report summarizes Argonne's review of ONWI's final report entitled The Organic Geochemistry of Deep Ground Waters from the Palo Duro Basin? Texas, dated September 1983. Argonne was requested to review this report on October 27, 1983 (see App. A). The review procedure involved obtaining written comments on the report from two extramural and four Argonne experts in relevant research areas. The peer review panel met at Argonne on November 10, 1983, and reviewer comments were integrated into this report by the review session chairman, with the assistance of Argonne's core peer review staff. All of the peer review panelists concurred in the way in which their comments were represented in this report (see App. B). A draft of this report was sent to SRPO on November 18, 1983.