This property has a documented history as a dry cleaning facility going back to 1965. 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 dry-cleaning operations that began in 1965 — more than two decades before 1986 — and continued for approximately fifty years, releasing PCE into soil, groundwater, and vapor pathways. With only interim vapor mitigation systems in place and full source area remediation, groundwater cleanup, and long-term monitoring still ahead under the active Prospective Purchaser Agreement, the ongoing and future cleanup costs this property faces are substantial — and are precisely the type of obligations that historical pre-1986 carriers may be required 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.