n an attempt to resolve an impasse over certifying the emergency plan for the Indian Point nuclear power plant in Westchester County, New York State last night suggested a meeting of federal and local officials to discuss their differences.

Edward F. Jacoby Jr., director of the State Emergency Management Office, sent a letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency reiterating the state's position that it cannot sign off on the plan because the four counties surrounding the plant, in Buchanan, have refused to send information the state needs for certification. The certification is normally an annual, routine task.

The counties, Mr. Jacoby noted, said they had acted out of concerns raised by a state-sponsored report last month that said the emergency plan, including designs for evacuating people within a 10-mile radius of the plant, is inadequate to protect the public from a large release of radiation.

On Monday, Joseph F. Picciano, acting regional director of FEMA, sent a letter to Mr. Jacoby asserting that the state should have enough information even without the counties to decide if the plan is current.

FEMA uses the "annual letter of certification," as well as its own information, to determine whether to approve the plan, a condition of the plant's operating license. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission, however, has never withdrawn a license over emergency planning issues.

But Mr. Jacoby said the state would not take a stand without the counties' participation. The state normally receives checklists from the counties that confirm that they have completed required training and administrative tasks.

Without taking a position on the adequacy of the plan, he suggested that FEMA meet with officials from the counties and state "to directly address the concerns of both the counties and the state."

A spokeswoman for FEMA said last night that the agency was reviewing the letter and had no comment.