This property has a documented history as a public works and maintenance facility going back to 1942. Historical insurance policies issued during operations at this property 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 subsurface fuel distribution infrastructure involved in this release was installed as part of Fairchild AFB's core flight-line operations, which date to the base's 1942 founding — more than four decades before 1986. Occurrence-based CGL policies in effect during those decades of operation carried no effective pollution exclusion and may respond to contamination originating from infrastructure placed during that coverage period. The confirmed groundwater contamination — benzene and petroleum hydrocarbons — and the remediation costs already incurred and still accruing represent the type of long-tail environmental liability those historical policies were written to cover.

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.