This property has a documented history as a dry cleaning facility predating 1986. 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.

PCE contamination at this property is linked to pre-1986 operations: an abandoned underground storage tank documented on the site is characteristic of installations predating the federal regulatory standards that took effect circa 1986 and 1988, and PCE itself is a chlorinated solvent whose use as a dry cleaning agent substantially predates those standards. The costs already expended — Phase II investigations, multi-quarter groundwater monitoring, and sustained Voluntary Cleanup Program participation — represent documented remediation expenditures that historical CGL carriers who issued occurrence-based policies during the pre-1986 operational window may be obligated to recover. Those same carriers may also be called upon to fund the institutional controls and long-term monitoring still required to reach a No Further Action determination.

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.