This property has a documented history as a gasoline service station going back to 1966. 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 two gasoline USTs removed from this property in 1991 were likely in service by the mid-1960s, based on the typical 25-year operational life of underground storage tanks of that era — placing fueling operations at this site well before 1986, when occurrence-based Commercial General Liability policies were standard and carried no effective pollution exclusion. Petroleum contamination — including benzene, diesel, and gasoline compounds — has been confirmed in soil, with additional contamination suspected in groundwater. The remediation costs already incurred and those still ahead represent expenditures that historical CGL carriers who covered the facility during its pre-1986 fueling operations may be obligated to fund.

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.