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 gasoline release at this site originated from underground storage tanks installed and operated well before 1986 — the year occurrence-based Commercial General Liability policies gave way to forms with effective pollution exclusions. The documented remediation record here spans more than three decades: four UST removals, 560 cubic yards of excavated soil, a vapor extraction system, multiple rounds of in-situ bioremediation, and ongoing groundwater monitoring. Historical CGL carriers whose policies covered Auburn Shell's fueling operations during the pre-1986 window may be obligated to recover costs already incurred and to fund the monitoring program going forward.

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.