This property has a documented history as a gasoline service station going back to 1983. 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 underground storage tank at this property is estimated to have been installed by 1983, and elevated lead concentrations in soil point to leaded gasoline usage — both strong indicators of fuel dispensing operations predating 1986. Occurrence-based CGL policies in effect during that operational window carried no effective pollution exclusion under Washington law. The cleanup costs this property now faces — further investigation, remedial design, and full-scale remediation of petroleum-contaminated soil and groundwater — could plausibly be funded by historical carriers whose policies were in force when the contamination originated.

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.