This property has a documented history as a farm and agricultural operation going back to 1978. 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.

The contamination at this property — chlordane, MCPA, MCPP, Aldrin, and petroleum hydrocarbons — originates from agricultural chemical distribution operations that began in 1978, nearly a decade before 1986 when occurrence-based CGL policies still lacked effective pollution exclusions. Documented remediation costs span two distinct excavation campaigns targeting different contaminant types, plus years of groundwater monitoring — expenditures tied directly to that pre-1986 operational window. Historical carriers who issued CGL coverage during those years may remain obligated to fund both the cleanup costs already incurred and the work still ahead.

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.