This property has a documented history as a public works and maintenance facility going back to 1974. Historical insurance policies issued during those prior operations and through 1986 could fund a cleanup — and recover costs already spent.

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.

Fuel dispensing operations at this municipal facility date to approximately 1974 — more than a decade before occurrence-based CGL policies ceased reliably covering pollution claims in 1986. Elevated lead levels in soil samples collected in 1994 corroborate the use of leaded gasoline during that pre-1986 window, confirming a long-duration release consistent with the type of ongoing contamination these policies were written to address. The remediation costs already incurred — soil excavation, off-site incineration, tank closure, and years of assessment — along with the further investigation and cleanup still ahead, represent expenditures that historical carriers who insured the facility during that operational period may be obligated to fund.

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.