The Peter White Public Library in Marquette is pictured. (Journal file photo)

EDITOR’S NOTE: Superiorland Yesterdays is prepared by the reference desk staff at Peter White Public Library.

30 years ago

ISHPEMING — The Tilden Mine near Ishpeming has been fined $30,800 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for violating various PCB rules. The Tilden Mining Co., which is made up of Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. and steel companies that take iron ore from the mine, has signed a consent agreement with the EPA to settle the complaint. According to the EPA, the mine had four leaking PCB transformers in 1990. The company was subsequently cited for violating the federal rules on PCB use, marking, storage, recordkeeping and disposal. Federal rules specify how the equipment is to be used and requires owners and operators to maintain proper records. The Tilden had been storing five PCB transformers–four of which were leaking–that were to be properly disposed of. The transformers were discovered, however, by the state Department of Natural Resources during a routine inspection in July 1990. CCI spokesman Don Ryan said the company cleaned up the problem within a couple of months. The EPA banned the manufacture of PCBs in 1979 because of evidence that the chemicals accumulate in the environment and may cause significant human health hazards.

60 years ago

MARQUETTE — A study may be made of the need for reestablishing an “aerial bridge” to connect the Upper and Lower Peninsulas, City Attorney Waldo A. McCrea noted at this week’s city commission meeting. The Civil Aeronautics Board last week authorized North Central Airlines to suspend service between Escanaba and Traverse City. Several U.P. cities, including Marquette, had opposed North Central’s proposal to discontinue the “aerial bridge” flights. McCrea, who met with attorneys of several Northern Michigan cities this summer to draft a protest to the discontinuation, said the flight was suspended because there was not enough traffic to warrant continuation. With the discontinuation of the “aerial bridge” flights, the only connection between the U.P. and Lower Peninsula by air is via Green Bay. The suspended aerial bridge flight connected Escanaba with Midland and Port Huron via Traverse City.