This property has a documented history as a public works and maintenance facility going back to 1942. 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.

Fuel storage and handling operations at this station began in 1942 — more than four decades before occurrence-based CGL policies gave way to claims-made forms with absolute pollution exclusions. The petroleum and chlorinated-solvent contamination documented across the fuel farms originated from infrastructure installed and operated throughout that pre-1986 window. With decades of remediation expenditures already incurred — free-product recovery, long-term groundwater monitoring, and vapor-intrusion investigation — and cleanup still ongoing under the Federal Facility Agreement, historical carriers who issued CGL policies during the station's early operational period may be obligated both to recover past costs and to fund continuing cleanup.

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.