This property has a documented history as a gasoline service station predating 1986. 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 detection of lead in the petroleum contamination at this site is a definitive indicator of pre-1986 operations, as leaded gasoline was the industry standard for decades before its phase-out — and well before 1986, the year occurrence-based Commercial General Liability policies began to include effective pollution exclusions. CGL policies issued to this station's operators during the leaded-gasoline era remain enforceable today under Washington law. The investigation, remediation design, and active cleanup the property still requires represent costs that historical carriers whose policies were in force during that operational window 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.