This property has a documented history as a auto body / repair shop predating 1986. Historical insurance policies issued during those prior operations and through 1986 could fund a cleanup.

Why Historical Insurance Policies May Be Accessible

Pre-1986 Commercial General Liability (CGL) policies were occurrence-based and did not contain an effective pollution exclusion in Washington. If contamination occurred while those policies were active, those historical insurance carriers may still have a legal obligation to fund the cleanup costs, even if the business closed or the property changed hands.

The contamination at this property — petroleum hydrocarbons, lead, cadmium, and solvents consistent with automotive degreasing — originated from transmission repair and automotive service operations that predated 1986. The 1990 investigation itself noted that "tank age suggests possibility of LUST," confirming the tanks were considered old at the time of investigation and likely installed and in active service well before occurrence-based CGL policies began routinely excluding pollution claims. Historical carriers who issued policies to the operators of this automotive service facility during that pre-1986 window may be obligated to fund the remaining confirmatory sampling and any remediation costs that follow.

Restorical's role is to locate viable historical policies, determine whether a successful coverage claim is possible, and assist our clients and their legal counsel to obtain insurance coverage. Restorical then manages the claim, including accounting, to ensure the cleanup is funded in a timely manner.