This property has a documented history as a industrial and manufacturing facility predating 1986. Historical insurance policies issued during operations at this property 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 arsenic, chromium, and copper contamination at this property originated from wood treating chemical processes that were active well before 1986, when occurrence-based Commercial General Liability policies had no effective pollution exclusion and were still the industry standard. The documented dumping of oils and antifreeze over many years further ties the site's contamination profile to that pre-1986 operational history. The property owner now faces a defined and substantial remediation program — institutional controls, soil excavation or capping, and long-term monitoring — that historical carriers whose policies covered sawmill and wood treating operations during that era 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.