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.

Industrial degreasing with chlorinated solvents at this property almost certainly predates 1986 — when occurrence-based Commercial General Liability policies were in force without effective pollution exclusions in Washington. The multi-year groundwater monitoring campaigns and purge water management already completed represent documented remediation expenditures that historical carriers may be obligated to reimburse. With additional sampling rounds planned and no active soil or source remediation yet concluded, those same pre-1986 policies may also carry obligations to fund the continuing and future cleanup work this site will require.

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.