This property has a documented history as a gasoline service station going back to 1966. Historical insurance policies issued during those prior operations and through 1986 could fund a cleanup — and recover costs already spent.
This property operated as a service station in Longview until it closed in February 1991. In April 1991, five storage tanks were removed from the site — three underground gasoline tanks, one underground diesel tank, and one aboveground heating oil tank — along with associated product lines, service islands, and canopies. Cleanup included excavation of approximately 450–500 cubic yards of contaminated soil, though removal was halted due to structural concerns at the site. Cleanup work is ongoing under the Standard Cleanup program. That history could support an insurance cost recovery claim against carriers who issued insurance policies 40+ years ago.
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 petroleum contamination at this property originated from underground storage tanks that, based on standard tank lifecycle assumptions, were likely installed around 1966 — two decades before occurrence-based CGL policies ceased reliably covering pollution claims. Documented remediation expenditures here — tank removals, soil excavation, and the unresolved contamination that halted further digging — represent costs tied directly to those pre-1986 fueling operations. Historical carriers who issued CGL policies during the station's operating years may be obligated both to recover past cleanup costs 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.
What We Look For
- Historical insurance policies (pre-1986)
- Policy numbers, carrier names, and coverage periods
- Connection between contamination timing and policy period
- Evidence linking cleanup obligation to insured activity
What We Deliver
- Historical Coverage Chart
- Trigger Analysis & Property/Policy Nexus
- Coverage strategy with recommendations
- Insurance funding for your remediation
- Claims Management & Forensic Accounting
The Restorical Proven Process
Ready to learn more?
Contact UsThis analysis is preliminary and based on publicly available records. Restorical Research is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice.