This property has a documented history as a industrial and manufacturing facility going back to 1970. 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 originates from a documented, deliberate operational practice — draining fuel tanks onto the ground — carried out continuously from the early 1970s through at least 1985, the final year aerial photographs confirm active wrecking at the site. CGL policies issued to the Andersons or their predecessors during that specific window were written against precisely this kind of long-running, ground-surface release. The cleanup expenditures still ahead — investigation, remediation design, and full site restoration — represent costs that historical carriers whose policies covered the Anderson wrecking operation during that 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.