This property has a documented history as a bulk fuel distribution terminal going back to 1900. 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 bunker oil contamination at this property originated from a pipeline installed in the early 1900s — operations that preceded 1986 by more than eight decades and had ceased entirely before modern pollution exclusions became standard in Washington. Occurrence-based CGL policies issued to the operators and property owners during that pre-1986 window contained no effective pollution exclusion and remain enforceable today. With excavation volumes exceeding 39,200 cubic yards, pipeline remediation, storm drain replacement, long-term groundwater monitoring, and institutional controls already on the books, the documented cleanup investment here represents a substantial liability that historical carriers may be obligated to address.

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.