This property has a documented history as a property with a heating oil tank going back to 1942. Historical insurance policies issued during those prior operations and through 1986 could fund a cleanup.
This residential property in Vancouver has been in use since the house was constructed in 1942, with home heating supplied by an underground diesel storage tank that served the property for decades. In 2001, the old tank was decommissioned and removed under the Underground Heating Oil Tank Decommissioning and Pocket Closure program; excavation and offsite disposal of 11.86 tons of petroleum-contaminated soil was performed at the same time. The site remains in Awaiting Cleanup status under Washington's Standard Cleanup program. That history could support an insurance cost recovery claim against carriers who issued insurance policies 40+ years ago.
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 underground heating oil tank at this property was installed and operated well before 1986 — the house itself dates to 1942 — placing the contamination squarely within the era when occurrence-based liability policies carried no effective pollution exclusion. Although tank removal and initial soil excavation were completed in 2001, the property has not achieved cleanup closure, and the remaining remediation obligations are the type historical carriers may be obligated to fund. Policies in force during the decades this tank operated could represent a source of recovery for the outstanding costs of bringing this site to closure.
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.
What We Look For
- Historical insurance policies (pre-1986)
- Policy numbers, carrier names, and coverage periods
- Connection between contamination timing and policy period
- Evidence linking cleanup obligation to insured activity
What We Deliver
- Historical Coverage Chart
- Trigger Analysis & Property/Policy Nexus
- Coverage strategy with recommendations
- Insurance funding for your remediation
- Claims Management & Forensic Accounting
The Restorical Proven Process
Ready to learn more?
Contact UsThis analysis is preliminary and based on publicly available records. Restorical Research is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice.
