This property has a documented history as a gasoline service station predating 1986. 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 petroleum contamination at this site originated from underground storage tanks whose existence was unknown even to the property operator — a hallmark of legacy infrastructure installed well before modern UST registration requirements took effect in the mid-1980s. The detection of lead alongside gasoline in excavated soil further confirms that fueling operations were active during the era of leaded gasoline, which was largely phased out by 1986. Occurrence-based CGL policies issued to operators during that pre-1986 window may be obligated both to reimburse the remediation costs already incurred and to fund the cleanup work that remains 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.