This property has a documented history as a industrial and manufacturing facility predating 1986. Historical insurance policies issued during those prior operations and through 1986 could fund a cleanup — and recover costs already spent.

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 PAH contamination at this property is directly attributable to roofing tar operations that — given the nature of the equipment and materials documented on site — predate 1986, the year occurrence-based Commercial General Liability policies ceased to reliably cover pollution claims. Investigation expenditures have already been incurred, and the property still requires active remediation to address PAH levels that exceeded cleanup standards. Historical CGL carriers whose policies were in force during Bremerton Roofing's operations may be obligated both to recover those investigation costs and to fund the cleanup work that has yet to commence.

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.