This property has a documented history as a public works and maintenance 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.

Government fire districts routinely maintain on-site fuel storage for their vehicle and equipment fleets, and the petroleum contamination documented here is consistent with fuel-storage operations that, at facilities of this age, predate the 1986 shift away from occurrence-based Commercial General Liability coverage. The site's trajectory — an initial cleanup, a "Reported Cleaned Up" designation, and a subsequent return to active remediation — reflects the kind of multi-phase cost pattern that historical CGL carriers may still be obligated to address. Where pre-1986 policies were issued to operators of this facility, those carriers may retain exposure for the ongoing remediation costs.

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.