March

March 18, 2002 | March 20, 2002

March 18, 2002
Contact: Chad Hyslop 208.331.8400
chyslop@americanecology.com

AMERICAN ECOLOGY BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPOINTS STEVE ROMANO CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Romano Brings Extensive Experience in Radioactive and Hazardous Waste Management
BOISE, Idaho - The Board of Directors of American Ecology Corporation [NASDAQ: ECOL], today announced that Stephen Romano has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Company, effective immediately. Romano was named President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company in October 2001 and retains those titles.

"We are very pleased to appoint Steve Romano to lead American Ecology as Chief Executive Officer," stated Board Member Edward F. Heil, adding "The Board has full confidence in Steve's ability to manage the organization, deliver excellent services to our customers, and generate improved earnings for our investors."

Romano has served in capacities of increasing responsibility with American Ecology and its subsidiaries for more than 12 years. Prior to his appointment as President and Chief Operating Officer, Romano was Vice President for Business Development and led the due diligence team for the Company's successful acquisition of Envirosafe Services of Idaho (now subsidiary US Ecology Idaho) in February 2001. Romano brings 22 years of experience in radioactive and hazardous waste management with the Company, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Idaho National Environmental and Engineering Laboratory, and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

"I look forward to working with the excellent team of professionals we have assembled at American Ecology to execute our new, Board-approved business strategy and drive earnings growth," Romano stated.

American Ecology Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides radioactive, PCB, hazardous and non-hazardous waste services to commercial and government customers throughout the United States, such as nuclear power plants, steel mills, medical and academic institutions and petro-chemical facilities. Headquartered in Boise, Idaho, the Company is the oldest radioactive and hazardous waste services Company in the United States.

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are based on our current expectations, beliefs, and assumptions about the industry and markets in which American Ecology Corporation and its subsidiaries operate. Actual results may differ materially from what is expressed herein and no assurance can be given that the company can successfully implement its new business strategy or generate future earnings. For information on factors that could cause actual results to differ from expectations, please refer to American Ecology Corporation's Report on Form 10-K, and most recent Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

March 20, 2002
Contact: Chad Hyslop 208.331.8400
chyslop@americanecology.com

AMERICAN ECOLOGY FIELD SERVICES AWARDED $5 MILLION CLEANUP CONTRACT AT TENNESSEE NUCLEAR FACILITY

Contract Continues Growth of On-Site Remediation Business
BOISE, Idaho - Steve Romano, President and Chief Executive Officer of American Ecology Corporation [NASDAQ: ECOL], today announced that the Company's Field Services division was awarded a $5 million contract to decommission a nuclear equipment recycling facility owned by a British Nuclear Fuels, Ltd. (BNFL) subsidiary in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

"This large, competitively bid award highlights the continued expansion of American Ecology's remediation services business," Romano stated, adding "The same highly trained team that successfully decommissioned a closed nuclear facility in Oak Ridge under contract to the State of Tennessee is now hard at work at the new job site."

The contract includes large nuclear component removal, decontamination, and decommissioning of the Manufacturing Sciences Corporation Recycle Facility, a wholly owned subsidiary of BNFL. The Recycle Facility previously processed radioactively contaminated materials and equipment from nuclear power plants. BNFL is among the premier international organizations operating in the nuclear area.

"In addition to its own profitable operations, our Field Services Division also directs additional business to our fixed waste processing and disposal facilities, " Romano concluded.

American Ecology Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides radioactive, PCB, hazardous and non-hazardous waste services to commercial and government customers throughout the United States, such as nuclear power plants, steel mills, medical and academic institutions and petro-chemical facilities. Headquartered in Boise, Idaho, the Company is the oldest radioactive and hazardous waste services Company in the United States.

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are based on our current expectations, beliefs, and assumptions about the industry and markets in which American Ecology Corporation and its subsidiaries operate. Actual results may differ materially from what is expressed herein and no assurance can be given that the Company can successfully implement its growth strategy or generate future earnings through its Field Services Division or other business activities. For information on factors that could cause actual results to differ from expectations, please refer to American Ecology Corporation's Report on Form 10-K, and most recent Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.