This property has a documented history as a industrial and manufacturing facility going back to 1964. 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.

The six underground storage tanks removed from this site in 1989 were already below industry standards and lacked cathodic protection — consistent with installation around 1964, more than two decades before occurrence-based CGL policies gave way to claims-made forms with pollution exclusions. The petroleum contamination in soil and groundwater originated from tank leaks and historical spills tied directly to those pre-1986 industrial operations. Nearly two decades of documented remediation expenditures — tank removals, soil excavation, groundwater recovery, hazardous waste disposal, and long-term monitoring — represent costs that historical carriers who covered this facility during its pre-1986 operating window may be obligated both to reimburse and to fund going forward.

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.