This property has a documented history as a industrial and manufacturing facility predating 1986. 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.

Dioxin contamination of this type is a hallmark of wood treating chemicals — particularly pentachlorophenol — that were in routine industrial use well before 1986, when occurrence-based Commercial General Liability policies contained no effective pollution exclusion. Because this parcel's dioxin burden traces directly to the former Pacific Wood Treating facility's pre-1986 operations, CGL policies issued to that operator during the applicable window may still be enforceable to fund the site investigation, cleanup design, and remediation work that lies ahead.

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.