This property has a documented history as a bulk fuel distribution terminal going back to 1965. Historical insurance policies issued during operations at this property 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 hydrocarbon contamination at this site — TPH-G, TPH-D, benzene, and phenolic compounds — is attributed to bulk pipeline operations that began in 1965, more than two decades before occurrence-based Commercial General Liability policies ceased to provide effective pollution coverage. Historical carriers who issued CGL policies to OPLC or prior operators during that pre-1986 window may be obligated to contribute to the documented remediation costs already incurred — excavation, groundwater recovery, and five years of quarterly monitoring — as well as the ongoing costs of the remediation work still in progress.

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.