United States National Mine Health and Safety Academy

Students are exposed to a variety of different disciplines in nine different laboratories: roof control, ground control, mine emergencies and rescue, ventilation, electrical systems, machinery, industrial hygiene, computer systems and underground mine simulation.

The most recent regulatory legislation combined the coal and metal and nonmetal industries under one law--the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977.

It is through the training provisions of this legislation that the National Mine Health and Safety Academy functions.

In response to the mandates of the Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969, on September 7, 1971, the Academy began inspector training in temporary facilities in Beckley, West Virginia.

On August 17, 1976, the permanent facility, situated on 80 acres (320,000 m2) of land donated by the Raleigh County Airport Authority, opened its doors with an official dedication.