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.

The contamination at this property originated from petroleum storage operations that were in place well before 1986, with underground storage tanks operating for years before their decommissioning in April 1991. Oregon DEQ's designation of the site for Risk-based Corrective Action and the execution of a Cost Recovery Agreement in April 2025 confirm that substantial investigation and remediation costs lie ahead, and pre-1986 carriers whose policies were in effect during those operational years may be obligated to fund this cleanup work 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.