"In no way should such a panel beholden to the very corporation that profits off the continued operation of Indian Point be the ultimate evaluator of the plant's safety," said Rep. John Hall, D-Dover Plains.

Officials at Indian Point have commissioned an independent safety evaluation of the nuclear power plant in an attempt to build public confidence in its safety and security. However, critics of the plant say that  the report will neither be neutral nor produce legitimate results.

According to The Journal News, the 12-member panel of outside experts will evaluate areas such as operations, maintenance, accident response and security. The group expects to set its review criteria in a month or so and will hold a public meeting in the area to gather additional information. A report on its findings is estimated to be ready sometime this summer.