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.

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 contamination at this parcel is linked to fuel distribution operations that, by the evidence, predate the 1992–1993 DOT acquisition and very likely predate 1986 — the period when occurrence-based Commercial General Liability policies were the industry standard and carried no effective pollution exclusion. Unocal's tenancy preceded Tosco's, meaning multiple carriers may have issued CGL coverage across the decades when the contamination originated. The soil and groundwater impacts now driving the pending cleanup represent costs that historical insurers — whose policies were in force during those pre-1986 operations — may be obligated to fund.

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.