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.

Military operations at Ault Field began in 1942 — more than four decades before the 1986 shift from occurrence-based to claims-made CGL policies. AFFF use, fire training activities, and landfill operations throughout the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s generated the halogenated organics, PFAS, and metals contamination now confirmed across multiple environmental media. The remediation costs required to address contamination from those pre-1986 operations may be recoverable from historical carriers whose occurrence-based policies were in force during the decades the releases occurred.

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.