In 1994 , the company publicly recognized the spill .
In 1994 , the company publicly began cleaning up the 2,700 - acre ( 11 km ) site , which lies in San Luis Obispo County immediately north of the Santa Barbara County line .
In 1994 , the company publicly recognized the spill and began cleaning up the 2,700 - acre ( 11 km ) site , which lies in San Luis Obispo County immediately north of the Santa Barbara County line .