Buchanan , New York ( CNN ) -- The chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission got a firsthand look Tuesday at the Indian Point nuclear plant on a visit organized by two members of Congress from New York who want the plant shut down . Chairman Gregory Jaczko toured the plant with longtime Indian Point opponents Rep. Nita Lowey and Rep. Elliot Engel , who have been raising concerns about the safety of the plant following the earthquake and tsunami in Japan that seriously damaged the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant . `` As I have repeatedly stressed to ( plant owner ) Entergy and the NRC , I continue to have serious concerns about several specific issues related to Indian Point , '' Lowey said at a press conference following the tour . Indian Point is on the Hudson River , 35 miles north of midtown Manhattan . Among the chief concerns raised by Lowey and Engel is the feasibility of evacuating such a populated area in the event of an emergency . Currently the NRC requires plants to have plans in place to evacuate a 10-mile radius around their facilities . But , pointing out that the NRC urged Americans within a 50-mile radius of the damaged Japanese reactors to leave , Lowey said that `` evacuating 20 million people within a 50-mile radius of Indian Point would be a near-impossibility . '' `` The bottom line , '' said Engel after the tour , `` I still believe Indian Point should be closed . '' Jaczko said the visit was a good opportunity to hear firsthand from the representatives about their concerns . `` I think it 's so important that we continue to have a very open and transparent dialogue , '' he said . Asked whether the proximity of the plant to such a densely populated area was sufficient reason to close the plant , as many New York officials have argued , including Gov . Andrew Cuomo , Jaczko said he could n't comment since Indian Point is undergoing a formal relicensing effort right now . There are two reactors at Indian Point . One is due to be relicensed in 2013 and the other in 2015 . Jaczko said the agency closely monitors the operation of all nuclear facilities `` to ensure that they meet our very stringent safety and security requirements . '' Indian Point , he said , meets those requirements . Lowey and Engel have introduced a bill that would require the NRC to use the same standards it uses to license new nuclear plants when relicensing older plants , `` including evaluating terror threats , seismic risk , population density and evacuation concerns , '' Lowey said . Engel , who first called for the plant to be closed following the 9/11 terrorist attacks , said , `` If this plant were being built today , in 2011 , I can tell you it would not be sited here in Buchanan , New York . '' Lowey said new data showing that Indian Point is located at two fault lines means the NRC should also evaluate whether a seismic event could affect the power supply or cause the spent fuel pools to leak . Jaczko said as part of relicensing , the NRC looks at the seismic qualifications of plants to ensure that all systems will continue to operate safely . A task force of `` top-notch experts '' at the agency is looking at all the challenges and issues that emerged following the earthquake and tsunami in Japan , he said . `` I expect that we 'll learn some good lessons , and I expect there will be some changes to our requirements as a result of that , '' he said .
20 million Japan members of NRC want nuclear plant closed . Engel , Engel say too many people live too close for evacuation . Congress chairman praises `` dialogue ''