This property has a documented history as a gasoline service station predating 1986. 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.

The steel underground storage tanks at this property were likely installed in the 1970s, based on their need for relining after roughly two decades of service, placing the site's fueling infrastructure within the pre-1986 era when occurrence-based CGL policies were the industry standard. Those policies, issued without effective pollution exclusions in Washington, may still respond to cleanup obligations at properties where insured fueling operations took place during the coverage period. With remediation now underway at this site under two Agreed Orders, historical carriers who insured the truck stop during its pre-1986 operational window may bear responsibility for a share of the documented cleanup costs.

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.