Environmental services insurance for remediation, hazmat and abatement work
Environmental contractors handle toxic substances, work in contaminated sites and carry liability that can surface decades after a job closes. We build programs around pollution liability, regulatory exposure and long-tail claims for contractors across the Pacific Northwest.
Exposure that outlasts the job
From asbestos abatement to underground storage tank removal, hazardous waste transportation to site remediation, environmental contractors need coverage for pollution liability, regulatory compliance and the long tail of environmental claims. Standard contractor insurance doesn't address these exposures.
Contamination claims don't follow normal timelines. A tank removal performed today could produce a claim 20 years from now when contamination is discovered, so a program has to account for completed work as carefully as current jobs.
The essential environmental coverages
Contractors pollution liability (CPL)
The cornerstone of an environmental program. Covers third-party bodily injury, property damage and cleanup costs from pollution conditions caused by your operations, sudden or gradual, at job sites and from your premises, including completed operations. Standard GL excludes pollution.
- Third-party bodily injury from pollution
- Property damage from releases
- Cleanup costs at job sites
- Transportation pollution incidents
- Non-owned disposal sites
- Emergency response costs
General liability
Non-pollution bodily injury and property damage from your operations: slip-and-falls, equipment damage, third-party injuries at job sites and completed-operations claims. Most contracts require both GL and CPL.
- Premises liability
- Operations liability
- Products / completed operations
- Personal and advertising injury
- Medical payments
- Legal defense costs
Professional liability (E&O)
For firms providing site assessments, environmental reports, remediation design, compliance consulting or expert opinions, when a client claims your work or advice was negligent.
- Negligent site assessments
- Errors in Phase I/II reports
- Flawed remediation design
- Regulatory compliance advice
- Expert witness testimony
- Defense costs
Commercial auto and pollution in transit
Standard auto policies often exclude pollution from transported cargo. Pollution in transit covers cleanup and third-party claims when hazardous materials are released during transport, and many contracts require it.
- Auto liability
- Physical damage
- Pollution release during transit
- Spill cleanup costs
- Third-party bodily injury / property damage
- Emergency response
Understanding CPL
CPL is built for the pollution exposures standard policies exclude. It can be written on an occurrence basis (covering incidents during the policy period, whenever the claim is made) or a claims-made basis (covering claims made during the policy period, whenever the incident occurred).
Coverage typically includes on-site pollution releases, completed-operations pollution, transportation pollution, non-owned disposal sites, cleanup costs, third-party bodily injury, property damage and legal defense.
Claims-made vs. occurrence: most CPL policies are claims-made, so coverage applies only if the claim is made while the policy is in force. Cancelling a claims-made policy without buying tail coverage removes protection for past work, even work performed years ago. Understand your policy structure before making changes.
Environmental contractors we insure
Site remediation
Soil and groundwater remediation, including excavation, treatment and long-term monitoring.
Asbestos abatement
Licensed removal and encapsulation, with coverage for exposure claims and disposal liability.
Lead paint abatement
Removal and stabilization on residential and commercial projects.
Tank removal and closure
Underground and aboveground tanks, including removal, closure and discovered contamination.
Hazmat response
Emergency spill response and cleanup, including rapid response and unknown substances.
Waste transportation
Hazardous and non-hazardous hauling, with pollution in transit and cargo coverage.
Water treatment
Groundwater treatment, dewatering and water quality services, including discharge and system failures.
Industrial cleaning
Tank cleaning, vessel entry and decontamination, including confined-space and chemical exposure.
Mold remediation
Assessment and removal, including spore release and remediation claims.
Environmental consulting
Phase I/II assessments, compliance consulting and expert services.
Demolition contractors
Demolition involving hazardous materials: dust, debris and material release.
Brownfield development
Contaminated site redevelopment, phased cleanups and developer requirements.
Additional environmental protections
Non-owned disposal site
Liability when waste you generated or transported contaminates a disposal facility you don't own; you can be held liable under CERCLA as a generator or transporter.
- Third-party disposal site claims
- CERCLA generator liability
- Transporter liability
- Cleanup contribution claims
- Defense costs
Occupational health
Claims from workers and third parties alleging injury from exposure to hazardous substances, which may arise years later due to latency periods.
- Worker exposure claims
- Third-party exposure
- Latent disease claims
- Asbestos-related illness
- Long-tail bodily injury
Workers' compensation
Employee injuries and illness on the job, with elevated risk from chemical exposure, confined spaces, heavy equipment and hazardous conditions.
- Medical treatment costs
- Wage replacement
- Occupational disease
- Rehabilitation expenses
- Employer's liability
Contractors equipment
Owned and leased trucks, excavators, pumps, air monitoring equipment and remediation machinery that often work in harsh conditions.
- Owned equipment
- Leased / rented equipment
- Theft and vandalism
- Equipment breakdown
- Transportation damage
Regulatory defense
Legal costs to defend regulatory actions, agency investigations and administrative proceedings from EPA, state agencies and OSHA.
- EPA enforcement defense
- State agency actions
- OSHA investigations
- Administrative proceedings
- Penalty mitigation
Excess / umbrella liability
Additional limits above primary CPL, GL and auto policies for catastrophic environmental claims.
- Excess over CPL
- Excess over GL / auto
- $5M to $50M+ limits
- Additional defense costs
- Broader coverage scope
How coverage applies when things go wrong
Illustrative examples of environmental claims and the coverage that typically responds.
Contamination discovered during tank removal
During an underground storage tank removal, soil contamination is found extending beyond the property. The owner sues for additional cleanup costs, alleging improper removal procedures.
Illustrative example. Real outcomes depend on the facts and your policy terms.
The regulatory environment
Federal laws such as CERCLA, RCRA and the Clean Water Act create strict liability, so you can be responsible for contamination regardless of fault. Washington's Model Toxics Control Act adds stringent state standards. We help make sure your program meets contract requirements, limits and endorsements while addressing these exposures.
CERCLA / Superfund
Strict, joint and several liability for contamination.
RCRA
Hazardous waste handling and disposal.
Clean Water Act
Discharge permits and water quality standards.
Clean Air Act
Emissions controls and asbestos NESHAP.
OSHA
HAZWOPER and worker safety requirements.
DOT / EPA
Hazmat transportation regulations.
Washington MTCA
State cleanup standards and requirements.
Licensing
State contractor and specialty licenses.
Common gaps and how to close them
No pollution liability
Standard GL has an absolute pollution exclusion. Dedicated CPL, with limits suited to your operations, is the foundation of an environmental program.
Weak completed operations
Claims often arise years after work is done. Make sure CPL includes strong completed-operations coverage, and buy an extended reporting period (tail) when switching carriers or retiring.
No transportation pollution
Standard auto excludes pollution from cargo. Add pollution in transit that applies to everything you haul, including contaminated soil, waste and chemicals.
No disposal site coverage
CERCLA can make you liable for sites you don't own. Include non-owned disposal site coverage, use licensed, financially stable facilities, and keep manifests and disposal records.
Limits too low
Significant contamination events can reach $5 million to $10 million or more. CPL limits of $2 million to $5 million are a common minimum, with excess for larger projects and contract requirements.
No professional liability
GL and CPL don't cover professional negligence. Add E&O if you provide any consulting, assessment or design services beyond physical remediation.
Environmental programs, coordinated
Environmental experience
We've insured Pacific Northwest contractors since 1992 and understand the regulatory environment and the coverage environmental work requires.
Specialty markets
As a broker, we compare CPL programs from carriers that specialize in environmental risk to find the right combination of protection and price.
One coordinated program
CPL, GL, professional, auto and workers' comp packaged to meet contract requirements, with support through complex environmental claims.
Get your environmental services insurance quote
Tell us about your services, materials and projects and we'll build a program around your pollution and long-tail exposures.
Coverage descriptions are general summaries for education. They are not legal, tax or coverage advice, a statement of coverage, an offer or a binder. Scenarios and dollar figures are illustrative examples, not representations about any business. Coverage, limits and eligibility are governed by the terms, conditions and exclusions of the policies issued and are subject to underwriting.