This property has a documented history as a gasoline service station predating 1986. Historical insurance policies issued during those prior operations and through 1986 could help fund the ongoing and future cleanup under Oregon DEQ oversight.

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 Oregon — and those policies may provide coverage that remains enforceable today. 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.

PacifiCorp has operated in Oregon since the early 1900s, and fleet fueling infrastructure at service centers like this one—including the underground storage tanks whose release was discovered during decommissioning in August 2011—was characteristic of utility operations that long predated 1986. The ongoing remediation of petroleum-contaminated soil and groundwater, continued monitoring near domestic wells less than half a mile from the plume, and compliance obligations under the Cost Recovery Agreement filed in September 2022 represent substantial current and future costs that historical pre-1986 carriers may be obligated to fund going forward.

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.