This property has a documented history as a public works and maintenance facility going back to 1903. Historical insurance policies issued during operations at this property and through 1986 could fund a cleanup.
Camp Murray is a Washington Army National Guard installation in Pierce County that has been in continuous military operation since approximately 1903. Contaminated sediment containing petroleum hydrocarbons, non-halogenated solvents, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, lead, chromium, and other metals has been identified in Murray Creek and in sediment deposited behind Building 5. An initial investigation confirmed contamination in both surface water and sediment media, and the site is listed under Washington's Standard Cleanup program with remediation awaiting commencement. 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.
Camp Murray has operated continuously as a military installation since approximately 1903 — more than eight decades before 1986, when occurrence-based Commercial General Liability policies still carried no effective pollution exclusion. The contaminant profile documented at this site — petroleum diesel and gasoline, solvents, PAHs, lead, and chromium — is consistent with decades of military vehicle maintenance, fuel storage, and industrial operations conducted under those pre-1986 policies. Historical carriers who covered the installation during that long operational window may bear obligation for the investigation and remediation costs the property now faces.
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.