This property has a documented history as a public works and maintenance facility going back to 1951. 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 site originated from underground storage tanks installed and operated continuously from 1951 — more than three decades before occurrence-based Commercial General Liability policies gave way to claims-made forms with pollution exclusions in 1986. The documented remediation expenditures — tank removals, soil excavation and treatment, groundwater extraction and treatment, long-term monitoring — were incurred to address releases directly tied to those pre-1986 fueling operations. Historical carriers who issued CGL policies during that 35-year operational window may be obligated both to reimburse cleanup costs already spent and to fund the remediation work that remains.

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.