This property has a documented history as an industrial and manufacturing facility going back to 1908. 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 — petroleum from underground storage tanks, metals and PCBs in tailrace sediment, and bleach plant wastes including dioxins and furans — traces directly to pulp and paper manufacturing operations that began in 1908 and ran for nearly eight decades before 1986. The substantial work ahead — tailrace sediment remediation, bleach plant waste pile cleanup, production well restoration, and ongoing groundwater monitoring, all directed under an active PPA with Oregon DEQ — represents costs that historical pre-1986 carriers may be obligated to fund 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.