Trans-Alaska Pipeline Act

The Trans-Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act of 1973 authorized the construction and operation of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System, a major oil pipeline running over 800 miles from Prudhoe Bay in northern Alaska to Valdez on the southern coast. The pipeline was built to transport oil from Alaska’s abundant northern oil fields to market centers, enabling economic development and energy supply. The Act provided legal approval, funding mechanisms, and environmental guidelines to facilitate the pipeline’s construction and operation, representing a significant federal effort to harness Alaska’s energy resources while addressing economic and strategic needs.