This property has a documented history as a industrial and manufacturing facility 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 PCE and TCE found here are the chemical fingerprints of the degreasing and coating operations that Paramount Plastic Inc. and Northwest Powder Coats ran at this property across the decades before 1986. CGL policies issued to those specific operators during that window are potentially enforceable sources of recovery for costs already documented at this site — the soil investigation, culvert excavation, and drum disposal that make up the cleanup record to date. Because the VCP project was terminated before completion and contaminated soil remains, those same historical policies may also bear an obligation to fund the remediation work that still lies ahead.

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.