This property has a documented history as a bulk fuel distribution terminal predating 1986. Historical insurance policies issued during operations at this property and through 1986 could help fund the ongoing and future cleanup under Oregon DEQ oversight.
This former Unocal (Union Oil Company) petroleum bulk distribution facility in Lane County operated as a fuel storage and distribution hub with underground storage tanks that are characteristic of bulk plant operations dating to the mid-twentieth century. Petroleum contamination — classified as miscellaneous gasoline — has been confirmed in soil, groundwater, and surface water at the site. Oregon DEQ has the site under active oversight with Assigned project status, and a Cost Recovery Agreement filed in July 2025 establishes an ongoing financial obligation for investigation and remediation with no No Further Action determination on record. That history could support an insurance coverage claim against the carriers who issued policies more than 40 years ago — coverage that could help fund the cleanup ahead.
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.
The petroleum contamination at this bulk plant originated from fuel storage and distribution operations dating to the mid-twentieth century, well before 1986. With a Cost Recovery Agreement filed in 2025 and ongoing Oregon DEQ oversight confirming that substantial investigation, remediation, and monitoring work lies ahead, historical pre-1986 carriers may be obligated to fund these cleanup costs 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.
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
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.