This property has a documented history as an industrial and manufacturing facility going back to 1951. 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 chlorinated solvent contamination affecting this property originated from industrial operations — including on-site sawmill and plywood manufacturing since 1951 and chemical operations on the adjacent parcel — that were well established decades before 1986. Because Oregon DEQ has never issued a No Further Action determination for the solvent contamination and the project remains unassigned, the costs this property still faces — further investigation, plume delineation, ongoing monitoring of the five existing wells, and any required remediation of the contaminated groundwater — 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.