This property has a documented history as a public works and maintenance facility going back to 1940. 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.

PCBs, metals, and PAHs at this substation trace to infrastructure and operations that were in place for decades before 1986 — PCB sampling was already underway by 1981, and the USTs removed in 1987 had been installed well before that date. CGL policies issued to BPA or facility operators during that pre-1986 operational window may cover the investigation and remediation costs now being incurred for those legacy contaminants. With cleanup underway and expenditures accumulating, the historical policy record from the substation's first four decades of operation warrants close review.

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.