Pollution Liability Insurance for Dirt Work Contractors

A hydraulic line failure. A diesel tank tip-over. Soil contamination from a historical dump site. Your general liability policy excludes all of these. Contractor pollution liability fills the gap — and is increasingly required on commercial and government jobs.

Why Excavation Contractors Need Pollution Liability

Every excavation operation involves pollutants — diesel fuel, hydraulic fluid, engine oil, and potentially pre-existing site contamination. Your standard GL policy contains a broad pollution exclusion that eliminates coverage for virtually any pollution-related claim.

Remediation costs from even a modest fuel spill on a sensitive site can exceed $50,000–$200,000. On a site near a waterway or drinking water source, that number climbs fast. Without CPL, that cost comes directly out of your pocket.

What CPL Covers