Trans-Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act

{{Short description|1973 US law dismissing all legal challenges to the construction of an oil pipeline in Alaska}}

{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}}

{{Infobox U.S. legislation

| shorttitle = Trans-Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act

| othershorttitles = Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 Amendments

| longtitle = An Act to amend section 28 of the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, and to authorize a trans-Alaska oil pipeline, and for other purposes.

| colloquialacronym =

| nickname = Federal Lands Right-of-Way Act

| enacted by = 93rd

| effective date = November 16, 1973

| public law url = http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/STATUTE-87/pdf/STATUTE-87-Pg576.pdf

| cite public law = 93-153

| cite statutes at large = {{usstat|87|576}}

| acts amended =

| acts repealed =

| title amended = 30 U.S.C.: Mineral Lands and Mining

| sections created =

| sections amended = {{Usc-title-chap|30|3a}} § 185

| leghisturl = http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d093:SN01081:@@@R

| introducedin = Senate

| introducedbill = {{USBill|93|S.|1081}}

| introducedby = Henry M. Jackson (D-WA)

| introduceddate = March 1, 1973

| committees = Senate Interior and Insular Affairs

| passedbody1 = Senate

| passeddate1 = July 17, 1973

| passedvote1 = [http://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/93-1973/s289 77-20]

| passedbody2 = House

| passedas2 =

| passeddate2 = August 2, 1973

| passedvote2 = [http://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/93-1973/h306 356-60], in lieu of {{USBill|93|H.R.|9130}}

| conferencedate = November 7, 1973

| passedbody3 = House

| passeddate3 = November 12, 1973

| passedvote3 = [http://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/93-1973/h421 361-14]

| agreedbody3 =

| agreeddate3 =

| agreedvote3 =

| agreedbody4 =

| agreeddate4 =

| agreedvote4 =

| passedbody4 = Senate

| passeddate4 = November 13, 1973

| passedvote4 = [http://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/93-1973/s463 80-5]

| signedpresident = Richard Nixon

| signeddate = November 16, 1973

| unsignedpresident =

| unsigneddate =

| vetoedpresident =

| vetoeddate =

| overriddenbody1 =

| overriddendate1 =

| overriddenvote1 =

| overriddenbody2 =

| overriddendate2 =

| overriddenvote2 =

| amendments =

| SCOTUS cases =

}}

The Trans-Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act of 1973 is a United States federal law signed by US President Richard Nixon on November 16, 1973, that authorized the building of an oil pipeline connecting the North Slope of Alaska to Port Valdez. Specifically, it halted all legal challenges, which were filed primarily by environmental activists, against the construction of the pipeline. In accordance with Nixon's request, the act contains no amendments allowing for federal and state agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency, the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, or the Alaska Department of Fish and Game to regulate the construction of the pipeline.{{cite web |title=Nixon supports construction of the Alaskan oil pipeline |website=HISTORY |url=https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nixon-supports-construction-of-the-alaskan-oil-pipeline |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190504082439/https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nixon-supports-construction-of-the-alaskan-oil-pipeline |archive-date=May 4, 2019 |access-date=October 21, 2021 |publisher=A&E Television Networks |date=February 26, 2019 |language=English |quote=...he [Nixon] asked Congress not to attach amendments to the bill that would have given federal agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Fish and Game regulatory power over the pipeline’s construction.}}