This property has a documented history as a bulk fuel distribution terminal going back to 1948. 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 petroleum contamination at this property originated from bulk fuel storage and distribution operations that ran from 1948 through 1988 — spanning the entire era during which occurrence-based CGL policies were issued without effective pollution exclusions in Washington. Although initial remedial action has been completed and partially settled, the Standard Cleanup designation means the full remediation still lies ahead, and the costs of completing that work could substantially exceed what has been spent to date. Historical carriers whose policies were in force during the pre-1986 portion of those operations may be obligated to fund the cleanup that remains.

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.