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 — 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 petroleum contamination here originated from underground storage tanks that, based on their documented removal in June 1990 and a service life extending well before 1986, were installed and in operation during the era when occurrence-based Commercial General Liability policies carried no effective pollution exclusion. Those pre-1986 policies may still be enforceable against the historical carriers who covered this facility's operations — covering not only the remediation costs already incurred since the 1989 release report but also the forward-looking expenses associated with completing the active cleanup now underway.

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.