XL Insurance, XL Capital Ltd.'s global insurance operations, has launched a new specialised environmental insurance programme for pollution liability and clean-up expenses for US warehouses, storage and distribution facilities.

Underwritten by Greenwich Insurance Co. and Indian Harbor Insurance Co., the policy covers remediation expense, bodily injury and property damage, and legal defence for pollution conditions resulting at or from the insured warehouse or distribution centre.

Both companies are member insurers of the XL Capital group of companies.

"While environmental incidents tend to be low frequency events for businesses, when they do occur they can be high cost events that can severely impact a company's profitability," said Rich Corbett, head of XL Insurance's global environmental insurance unit.

l Everest Indemnity Insurance Co., a US insurance subsidiary of Everest Re Group Ltd., has started writing business through its newly-opened environmental insurance underwriting office located at its headquarters in Liberty Corner, New Jersey.

Everest has more than 10 years of experience in underwriting environmental-related insurance products, and with the new facility, the company will service its wholesale and retail producers of environmental products, which are available in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Coverage is available for contractors' pollution, professional environmental consultants, environmental contractors, motor vehicle, waste facilities, and site specific pollution.