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.
Rainier Plywood Co operated as an industrial plywood manufacturing facility in Tacoma, with an underground storage tank that released petroleum hydrocarbons into the soil and groundwater. Owners or consultants previously reported the site as cleaned up, and Ecology acknowledged work toward remediation; however, Ecology's subsequent review determined that contaminated soil and groundwater were left in place and MTCA cleanup standards were not achieved. The site remains in the Cleanup Started phase under the Standard Cleanup program. That history could support an insurance cost recovery claim against carriers who issued insurance policies 40+ years ago.
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 petroleum release here originated from a former underground storage tank — the kind of infrastructure routinely installed at pre-1986 industrial facilities for fuel oil, heating, or fleet fueling — indicating contamination tied to historical operations predating modern pollution exclusions. Occurrence-based Commercial General Liability policies issued during that operational window carried no effective pollution exclusion under Washington law and remain potentially enforceable today. With MTCA standards still unmet despite prior remediation claims, the costs of completing cleanup at this site represent expenditures that historical carriers 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.
What We Look For
- Historical insurance policies (pre-1986)
- Policy numbers, carrier names, and coverage periods
- Connection between contamination timing and policy period
- Evidence linking cleanup obligation to insured activity
What We Deliver
- Historical Coverage Chart
- Trigger Analysis & Property/Policy Nexus
- Coverage strategy with recommendations
- Insurance funding for your remediation
- Claims Management & Forensic Accounting
The Restorical Proven Process
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Contact UsThis analysis is preliminary and based on publicly available records. Restorical Research is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice.
