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.

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 six underground storage tanks removed from this former gasoline station were, by standard industry lifecycle analysis, almost certainly installed and operating well before 1986 — the year occurrence-based Commercial General Liability policies gave way to claims-made forms with absolute pollution exclusions. The petroleum contamination now confirmed in groundwater and migrating off-site originated from releases during that pre-1986 operational window. The investigation, remediation design, and cleanup costs the property owner faces could plausibly be funded by historical carriers whose occurrence-based policies were in force when these tanks were actively dispensing fuel.

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.