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 recover the cleanup costs already paid.

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 scale of infrastructure at this property — six USTs, pump islands, and a service bay serving an established Exxon-branded station — is consistent with operations that began well before 1986, when occurrence-based CGL policies were standard and carried no effective pollution exclusion. Petroleum and lead contamination detected in groundwater here originated from those long-running fueling operations, and the remediation costs incurred to reach No Further Action status represent expenditures that historical carriers who issued policies during the station's pre-1986 operating years may be obligated to recover.

Restorical's role is to locate viable historical policies, determine whether a successful cost recovery claim is possible, and assist our clients and their legal counsel to obtain insurance coverage for costs already incurred. Restorical's forensic accounting team works to re-establish and document past cleanup expenditures, ensuring the strongest possible basis for recovery.