The medal's obverse bears heavily dressed pipeline worker in front of three panels of industrial imagery: pump stations at top, pipeline in middle, tanks and harbor with oil tanker at bottom. Signed at bottom, SVENSON
The medal's reverse bears legend only. Around and across, TRANS ALASKA PIPELINE / COMPLETION / & / START-UP / JUNE 20, 1977
The Alyeska Pipeline represents a triumph of engineering in the harshest weather conditions. It connects the oil fields near Prudhoe Bay to the harbor at Valdez. Constructed after all other attempts to transport the oil had failed, including specially equipped ice-breaking tankers, the pipeline is owned and operated by the Alyeska Pipeline Service Company.
The circular medal was struck in bronze by the Metalarts Company of Rochester, New York.