WHITE PLAINS – Hudson Riverkeeper Paul Gallay told a special session of the Westchester County Legislature’s Environment and Energy Committee that the Indian Point nuclear power plant should be shut down until it can be scientifically proven that it could withstand a 7.0 magnitude earthquake.

The session was called in the wake of the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear power plant explosions in Japan that began last Friday.

Gallay said more study must be done immediately into the “what if’s” at Indian Point.

“I am asking this committee and this administration to advocate for an immediate, objective, tough-minded and independent study of the seismic risk that underlies this plant,” he said.

And until that risk has been determined and the plant is proven safe to withstand such an earthquake, it should be closed down, Gallay said. He also called for the spent fuel rods to be moved from pools where they are being stored now to dry casks, which he said are much safer.

Westchester Emergency Services Commissioner Tony Sutton told lawmakers that the events in Japan were the “worst nightmare” imaginable for any country. But, he said Japan is, perhaps, the best country in the world, at handling and safeguarding its nuclear power.

Sutton outlined what he knew about the situation in Japan, noting little has been conclusively determined as to the exact amount of radiation has been released.

Entergy officials over the weekend said Indian Point is safe with a number of redundancies, something with which Sutton agreed.