This property has a documented history as a industrial and manufacturing facility predating 1986. Historical insurance policies issued during operations at this property 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 and PAH contamination at this property traces directly to historical fuel storage operations and railway materials use that predate 1986, when occurrence-based Commercial General Liability policies were still the industry standard and lacked effective pollution exclusions. Documented remediation expenditures — tank removals, soil excavation, vault remediation — are already on record, and the forthcoming Voluntary Cleanup Program process will generate additional costs tied to the same pre-1986 operations. Historical CGL carriers whose policies covered Sierra Pacific Industries or its operational predecessors during that window may be obligated to fund both past cleanup costs and the remediation work still ahead.

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.