This property has a documented history as a public works and maintenance facility predating 1986. Historical insurance policies issued during operations at this property and through 1986 could fund a cleanup — and recover costs already spent.
This property served as a Navy facility for warehousing and operations through at least the mid-twentieth century before transitioning to its current role as the Clover Park School District's Auxiliary Services Center for maintenance, operations, and vehicle storage. Remediation under Ecology's Voluntary Cleanup Program — enrolled beginning in 2002 — included excavation and removal of six underground storage tanks (three 5,000-gallon, one 850-gallon, and two 4,000-gallon units), removal of contaminated soil, removal of a concrete sump used for liquid waste disposal, decommissioning of a drywell, and disposal of 55-gallon drums of sludge. Cleanup work is ongoing. That history could support an insurance cost recovery claim against carriers who issued insurance policies 40+ years ago.
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 contamination at this property — TCE, PCBs, and metals tied to military-era maintenance and liquid waste disposal — originated from operations conducted well before 1986, when occurrence-based CGL policies covered pollution events without effective exclusions. The documented remediation costs already incurred — tank removals, soil excavation, sump cleaning, and sludge disposal — represent expenditures that historical carriers may still be obligated to recover. Because active cleanup is ongoing, those same pre-1986 policies may also be obligated to fund the remediation work yet to come.
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.
What We Look For
- Historical insurance policies (pre-1986)
- Policy numbers, carrier names, and coverage periods
- Connection between contamination timing and policy period
- Evidence linking cleanup obligation to insured activity
What We Deliver
- Historical Coverage Chart
- Trigger Analysis & Property/Policy Nexus
- Coverage strategy with recommendations
- Insurance funding for your remediation
- Claims Management & Forensic Accounting
The Restorical Proven Process
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Contact UsThis analysis is preliminary and based on publicly available records. Restorical Research is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice.
