This property has a documented history as a farm and agricultural operation predating 1986. 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 documented throughout this watershed — DDT, dieldrin, PCBs, PAHs, and heavy metals — traces to agricultural and urban development activities dating from the late 19th century that were well under way before 1986. Oregon DEQ's twelve outstanding investigation recommendations — including source identification, PAH source-area evaluation, and upper-watershed pesticide assessment — along with the cleanup design, remediation, and monitoring work that lies ahead, represent substantial future costs that historical pre-1986 carriers issued to operators whose activities contributed to this contamination 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.