Better Than CE: Environmental & Pollution with Tanya Andolsen
In this episode, Trey sits down with Tanya Andolsen of Argosy Risk, a 30-year veteran of the environmental insurance industry, to break down everything producers need to know.
From why premiums are surprisingly affordable to the hidden gaps in standard GL and property policies, Tanya walks us through site pollution, contractor's pollution liability, transportation coverage, non-owned disposal sites, products pollution, and more. Whether you're a generalist trying to round out accounts or a niche producer looking to go deeper, this episode will change how you look at every renewal.
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Timestamps:
00:01 — Welcome & intro00:45 — Tanya's background: 30 years in environmental insurance (carrier, retail, wholesale)01:13 — Why are environmental claims large but premiums so cheap?03:35 — Why standard contractors (HVAC, roofing, plumbing, flooring) are buying environmental coverage04:44 — Biggest mistake producers make: not bringing it up (and the E&O exposure that creates)06:18 — Environmental Insurance 101: where standard GL/property ends and environmental picks up06:29 — The two main towers: site-specific coverage vs. contractor's pollution liability08:08 — On-site vs. off-site exposures; strict liability and the "chain of title" rule12:02 — Contractor's pollution liability: asbestos, mold, lead, soil contamination13:57 — Transportation pollution liability: in-transit exposures, loading/unloading gaps17:32 — The generator vs. transporter debate — who's responsible when something spills in transit?20:22 — Non-owned disposal sites and Potentially Responsible Party (PRP) liability23:58 — Products pollution: the gap nobody talks about (valves, coatings, solvents, containers)28:40 — Tanya's environmental exposure checklist for producers (available on request)30:27 — Surprising contractors who need environmental coverage: street & road, roofing, HVAC, plumbing, landscaping, drone applicators35:14 — How to sell environmental coverage to resistant clients (claim scenarios + education)38:18 — What producers should bring to a submission — and what they almost never do44:30 — How environmental risk is actually rated (site, revenue, units — not filed rates)48:06 — Sudden & accidental vs. gradual coverage explained simply51:00 — Which is bigger: remediation costs or third-party liability?53:00 — What we didn't cover: M&A, property acquisition, due diligence gaps56:38 — Wrap-up and how to reach Tanya
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Key Takeaways:
* 95% of environmental coverage is written on non-admitted (E&S) paper — forms and rates are not filed
* A "pollutant" doesn't have to be hazardous or toxic — it's anything introduced to an environment that causes harm
* If you're in the chain of title on a contaminated property, you can be held liable even if you didn't cause it
* Not bringing up environmental coverage is an E&O exposure for producers
* Gradual coverage is broader than sudden & accidental — know the difference before recommending limits
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