This property has a documented history as a gasoline service station going back to 1900. Historical insurance policies issued during those prior operations and through 1986 could fund a cleanup.
This property in Blaine served as an informal fuel distribution point from around the turn of the twentieth century through World War II, with local residents recalling the purchase of gasoline and kerosene stored in 55-gallon drums in the basement of a thrift store then occupying the site. A structure remained on the property until 1971, and petroleum contamination was discovered in 2001 during excavation. Groundwater treatment through product recovery from on-site wells has been conducted, but full site cleanup has not yet been completed. 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 petroleum contamination here traces directly to fuel storage and dispensing operations that predate 1986 by decades — in some cases by more than half a century. Occurrence-based Commercial General Liability policies issued during that operational window contained no effective pollution exclusion and remain enforceable today. As this property now moves toward active remediation, those historical policies could be a source of funding for the investigation, design, and cleanup 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.
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
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Contact UsThis analysis is preliminary and based on publicly available records. Restorical Research is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice.
