This property has a documented history as a gasoline service station going back to 1936. 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 property's operational history stretches to 1936 — decades before 1986, when occurrence-based Commercial General Liability policies were the industry standard and carried no effective pollution exclusion in Washington State. Lead detected in soil samples associated with the USTs further suggests these tanks were in service during the era of leaded gasoline, which was largely phased out before 1986, placing the likely onset of contamination squarely within that pre-1986 coverage window. The remediation costs that now lie ahead — cleanup design, soil and groundwater treatment, and long-term oversight — represent expenditures that historical carriers whose policies were in effect during those early decades of operation 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.