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.
This former Chevron gas station in Multnomah County operated prior to its 1989 decommissioning, with underground storage tanks removed that year and a documented overfill release. Petroleum contamination has been confirmed in both soil and groundwater, and the site is classified under Oregon DEQ's Risk-based Corrective Action framework with project status Assigned. A Cost Recovery Agreement executed in June 2020 identifies Chevron U.S.A., Inc. as the responsible party, and the site record was updated as recently as March 2025 — confirming that investigation and remediation obligations remain active. 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 fueling operations and underground storage tanks at this property were in use well before 1986, with the station operating until its 1989 decommissioning when the tanks were removed and an overfill release was documented. With petroleum contamination confirmed in both soil and groundwater and Oregon DEQ directing ongoing work under a Cost Recovery Agreement, the investigation, remediation, and monitoring costs this property still faces are obligations that historical pre-1986 carriers may be required 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.
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.