This property has a documented history as a auto body / repair shop going back to 1958. 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 petroleum contamination documented at this site originated from auto wrecking and dismantling operations that were active for decades before 1986, when occurrence-based Commercial General Liability policies still lacked effective pollution exclusions. Historical CGL carriers who issued policies to the Northwest Auto Wrecking facility during that pre-1986 operational window had no such exclusion and remain potentially obligated for remediation costs. The documented remediation expenditures — soil and tank excavation, groundwater recovery, in-situ bioremediation, and long-term monitoring — represent costs those carriers may be required both to recover for past work and to fund as cleanup continues.

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.