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 help fund the ongoing cleanup and groundwater monitoring obligations that Wisconsin DNR continues to oversee.

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 Wisconsin — and those policies may provide coverage that remains enforceable today. 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.

Although the full operational history of this gasoline service station has not yet been documented through a Phase I ESA, the existing tanks may be replacements for earlier underground storage systems, and branded fuel stations in rural Wisconsin commonly date to the 1950s through 1970s — indicators consistent with fueling operations predating 1986. The groundwater investigation, protection of nearby water supply wells, and remediation required under Wisconsin DNR LUST program oversight represent future costs that historical pre-1986 carriers 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.