Attorney General Andrew Cuomo and other state leaders filed papers on Monday to petition the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to shut down the Indian Point nuclear facility.

The leaders made the announcement to a packed crowd of media, politicians and activists at the Westchester County Office Building. Members of Congress, county officials and Lt. Gov. David Patterson were there as well.

Patterson detailed New York State?s concerns about new licenses for Indian Point, which will expire in 2013 and 2015. The state is petitioning the NRC to address the 32 issues included in the appeal at a public hearing, expected to be held late next year.

The issues include the reactors? susceptibility to a terrorist attack and radioactive leaks and the difficulty evacuating the area in case of an emergency.

While the NRC limits petitions to environmental issues and questions about maintaining an aging facility, Cuomo isn?t concerned if some of the state?s issues don?t fit that description.

"If we win on one or two, that is enough to get us to a hearing,? Cuomo says. ?That is exactly what we want at this point.?

An NRC spokesperson says it will be several months before the agency decides which, if any, of the state?s concerns will be addressed at the hearing.

Entergy spokesman Jim Steets says Cuomo?s claims are misleading and politically motivated.

AP wire reports contributed to this article.

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