This bill enacts the New Jersey-Delaware Territorial Boundary Adjustment Compact, which aims to redraw the territorial boundary between New Jersey and Delaware to transfer ownership of Artificial Island and Finns Point from Delaware to New Jersey. The compact acknowledges that these lands, which emerged from the Delaware River and are physically connected to New Jersey, are currently under Delaware's jurisdiction due to historical boundary definitions established in 1682. The agreement allows Delaware to maintain control of the Delaware River up to the low water mark while relinquishing control of the aforementioned lands to New Jersey, addressing ongoing legal and management challenges.
To facilitate this boundary adjustment, the compact establishes a Joint New Jersey-Delaware Territorial Boundary Adjustment Commission, composed of surveyors appointed by both states, to collaboratively define the new boundary. The compact also outlines the roles of the governors of both states in overseeing negotiations and emphasizes cooperation with federal entities, such as Congress and the Supreme Court, in the implementation process. Additionally, it includes provisions for dispute resolution, amendment procedures, and the conditions under which the compact will take effect, ensuring that both states and relevant federal authorities are involved in the transition.