This property has a documented history as a public works and maintenance facility going back to 1979. Historical insurance policies issued during those prior operations and through 1986 could fund a cleanup.

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 Washington. 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 underground storage tanks at this facility were installed in 1979 and operated continuously until 1998 — a nearly two-decade window during which occurrence-based Commercial General Liability policies carried no effective pollution exclusion in Washington. The contamination discovered here resulted from structural tank failure over time, not a sudden event, making it precisely the kind of gradual release these pre-1986 policies were designed to cover. With final remediation still ahead — including groundwater monitoring well installation and potential further cleanup — historical carriers who insured the City of Pacific's operations during that period may be obligated to fund the remaining costs.

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.