Photograph of Harry Reid with John Herrington, Nevada, 1986

Senator-Elect Harry Reid, left, shows Department of Energy Secretary John Herrington his anti-repository letter to the President. The letter, initiated in July, opposes the location of a high-level nuclear waste repository in Nevada. Reid told the Secretary that Nevadans are patriotic and support a strong national defense, "but we've done more than our fair share." More than 33,000 Nevadans have signed the letter, which confirms they are "unalterably opposed to the disposal of any high-level nuclear waste in Nevada, now or in the future, under any circumstances." As Herrington looks at the letter and a sample of the signatures, Reid stands next to a pile of the signature sheets on his desk. Herrington will now present the letter and signatures to the President.