This property has a documented history as a gasoline service station going back to 1960. 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 here is directly tied to Chevron service station operations that ran through the early 1980s — decades during which occurrence-based Commercial General Liability policies were standard and carried no effective pollution exclusion. The documented remediation record, spanning UST removals, monitoring well installation, and long-term groundwater characterization under the VCP, reflects ongoing expenditures attributable to pre-1986 operations at this site. Historical carriers who issued CGL policies covering the station during that operational window may be obligated to fund both past and future cleanup costs.

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.