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 presence of leaded gasoline in these tanks is documentary proof of pre-1986 operations, when occurrence-based Commercial General Liability policies were still the industry standard and had no effective pollution exclusion. Four large USTs — 30,000 gallons of combined capacity — represent exactly the type of pre-1986 underground fuel infrastructure that generated the groundwater contamination now being addressed under Washington's Standard Cleanup program. Historical carriers who issued CGL policies to this station's operators during that pre-1986 window may be obligated to fund both the remediation costs already incurred and the excavation and in-situ treatment 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.