This property has a documented history as a industrial and manufacturing facility going back to 1900. 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.

Contamination at Snopac originates from two distinct pre-1986 exposure events: diesel USTs installed in 1959 and SBG dumping that began in the 1970s — both occurring decades before 1986, when occurrence-based CGL policies were in force at this facility. Historical carriers who issued policies during those operational windows may be obligated both to reimburse costs already incurred — including the 1989 UST excavation and remediation expenditures undertaken under the 2019 Agreed Order — and to fund the substantial multi-phase cleanup work still to come at this site.

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.