This property has a documented history as a bulk fuel distribution terminal going back to 1900. 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.

Olympic Chemical Corporation held this bulk terminal under sub-lease from 1978, and Richfield Oil Corporation operated it for decades before that — meaning CGL policies issued to both operators during the pre-1986 window are potentially in scope for the contamination identified in 1996. The documented remediation trail here is substantial and specific: five ASTs removed, sediment and tank farm capping, bio-sparging and recovery infrastructure, and a monitoring program that continues on a quarterly basis under a Restrictive Covenant. Historical carriers who issued occurrence-based policies to either operator during those pre-1986 tenancies may be obligated to contribute to both the costs already incurred and the ongoing operation-and-maintenance burden 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.