This property has a documented history as a bulk fuel distribution terminal going back to 1950. Historical insurance policies issued during operations at this property 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 fuel transport pipelines at this site were constructed and placed into active commercial service in 1950 — more than three decades before the 1986 threshold after which occurrence-based Commercial General Liability policies began incorporating effective pollution exclusions. Contamination here is tied directly to those longstanding pipeline operations, meaning any release or gradual migration occurring during the pre-1986 operational window falls within the coverage period of policies issued to Chevron Pipeline Company during that era. The documented costs of soil vapor extraction, air sparging, and multi-phase remedial investigation represent expenditures that historical CGL carriers may be obligated both to recover and to fund going forward.

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.