This property has a documented history as an industrial and manufacturing facility going back to 1940. Historical insurance policies issued during those prior operations and through 1986 could help fund the cleanup that lies 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 contamination at this property — petroleum from underground storage tanks and elevated metals from decades of sawmill operations — traces to mill operations that began in the 1940s and ran continuously until the facility closed in 1986. The metals investigation and remediation, hazardous-substance characterization, solid-waste removal, and protective measures for nearby Spout Creek that Oregon DEQ has recommended but that remain unaddressed are future costs this property still faces — costs that historical pre-1986 carriers may be obligated to fund.

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.