This property has a documented history as a gasoline service station going back to 1981. 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.

The underground storage tanks at this site were installed in 1981 and 1983 — within the window when occurrence-based Commercial General Liability policies covered pollution losses and contained no effective exclusion. Lead detected in groundwater is indicative of past leaded gasoline operations, providing an additional signal that contamination at this property began before 1986. With cleanup still pending, the costs ahead — investigation-derived waste disposal, continued soil and groundwater remediation, and long-term monitoring — represent expenditures that historical carriers whose policies were in force during those pre-1986 operations may be obligated to fund.

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.