EXHIBIT 99
AE
[GRAPHIC OMITED]

                                  NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release / October 24, 2002
Contact: Jim Baumgardner (208) 331-8400
info@americanecology.com     www.americanecology.com
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                            AMERICAN ECOLOGY SECURES
                    IDAHO INDUSTRIAL REVENUE BOND REFINANCING

              $7.0 MILLION WELLS FARGO BANK TERM LOAN REPLACES BOND

BOISE, Idaho - Jim Baumgardner, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer of American Ecology Corporation [NASDAQ: ECOL], today announced the
Company has secured refinancing for a large part of the $8.5 million Industrial
Revenue Bond for subsidiary US Ecology Idaho, Inc. that comes due on November 1,
2002.  With funding scheduled for October 28, 2002, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. has
agreed to provide a senior, secured, $7.0 million fully amortizing term loan
expiring in 2007.  The Company will fund the remaining $1.5 million principal
balance owing on the Bond from cash on hand.

"We are pleased that Wells Fargo, the Company's long-time relationship bank, has
strengthened its commitment to American Ecology by extending this new term loan
under favorable terms," Baumgardner stated, adding, "We believe that securing
this term loan, especially under present market conditions, is indicative of the
Company's improved financial condition."

The Bond, which was assumed as part of the February 2001 acquisition of
Envirosafe Services of Idaho, Inc. (now US Ecology Idaho), was issued in 1994
and bears an interest rate of 8.25%. The interest rate on the term loan is
floating with based on either Wells Fargo Bank's prime rate or an offshore rate,
at the Company's election, plus a margin that is based on the Company's
financial performance. At Closing, the floating rates available to the Company
ranged from approximately 4.1% to 4.9%.

In addition to the $7 million term loan, on October 15, 2002 the Company entered
into an amendment of its existing line of credit agreement, also with Wells
Fargo Bank, extending the credit facility to June 2004. The amendment improves
the structure, terms and cost of the revolving credit facility, and reduces the
maximum borrowing limit from $8.0 million to $6.0 million. The Company's line of
credit has not been utilized since April 2002.

"We believe this lower cost, more flexible line of credit, combined with the low
cost term loan, will have a positive impact on the Company's near-term financial
performance and condition," Baumgardner commented adding, "We also believe that
this refinancing and the liquidity provided by the line of credit provide us
with a firm foundation to continue growing the business and delivering
shareholder value."

The Company's third quarter 2002 investor conference call will be held Monday,
October 28, 2002 at 10:00 am Mountain Time.  President and Chief Executive
Officer Stephen Romano, Senior Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer James
Baumgardner, and Controller Michael Gilberg will host the call. Interested
parties may submit questions in advance to info@americanecology.com, or by
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facsimile to 208-331-7900.  To join the call, dial 1-877-679-9055.  Participants
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will be asked to provide their name and affiliation.



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, including statements
about anticipated financing costs and the Company's future financial
performance, 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, generate improved earnings, secure additional
financing, or that financing costs will not increase as interest rates increase
or if the Company's financial performance declines. For information on other
factors that could cause actual results to differ from expectations, please
refer to American Ecology Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly
Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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