This property has a documented history as a bulk fuel distribution terminal predating 1986. Historical insurance policies issued during operations at this property and through 1986 could fund a cleanup.
Sky Harbor Aviation operates as an aircraft fueling and maintenance company at this Renton airport property, storing aviation fuel and oil in large underground storage tanks. A leaking UST was discovered in 1998 during an independent investigation, confirming soil contamination at the site. Remediation to date consists of an asphalt and cement cap that functions as containment and limits exposure pathways; no active cleanup measures such as excavation, groundwater treatment, or vapor extraction have commenced. 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 underground storage tanks at this bulk-fuel facility were installed and operated well before modern UST regulations took effect — tanks of that era were the primary source of pre-1986 petroleum releases across the industry. Occurrence-based CGL policies issued to the operators of this facility during that window carried no effective pollution exclusion and remain enforceable today. With active remediation yet to begin, those historical carriers may be obligated to fund the investigation and cleanup costs that still lie ahead for this property.
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.
