This property has a documented history as a bulk fuel distribution terminal predating 1986. Historical insurance policies issued during operations at this property 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.

Petroleum bulk storage and distribution at this property occurred entirely before 1986, when occurrence-based Commercial General Liability policies were the industry standard and contained no effective pollution exclusion in Washington. The Potentially Liable Persons Ecology identified — operators including Chevron and the owners active through the 1970s — held CGL policies during the years when the contamination was deposited in soil. Both the remediation costs already incurred and the ongoing monitoring obligations represent expenditures that historical carriers who issued policies 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.