This property has a documented history as an industrial and manufacturing facility going back to 1946. 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 industrial manufacturing and metal fabrication operations that began in 1946 — four decades before 1986. With five distinct contamination areas on the South Parcel requiring investigation, significant data gaps including vapor intrusion evaluation and ecological risk assessment still outstanding, and Oregon DEQ having terminated the voluntary cleanup agreement in October 2024, the investigation, remediation, and long-term 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.