Exhibit 99 Press Release, dated March 28, 2003, entitled "SUPERIOR COURT RULES
AGAINST US ECOLOGY IN WARD VALLEY CASE"

[GRAPHIC OMITTED]

AE    NEWS RELEASE
      For Immediate Release / March 28, 2003
      Contact: Chad Hyslop (208) 331-8400
      info@americanecology.com     www.americanecology.com
      ------------------------     -----------------------



           SUPERIOR COURT RULES AGAINST US ECOLOGY IN WARD VALLEY CASE

             COMPANY TO WRITE OFF $21 MILLION IN WARD VALLEY ASSETS


     BOISE,  Idaho  -  Stephen  Romano, President and Chief Executive Officer of
American  Ecology  Corporation  [NASDAQ:  ECOL], today announced that California
Superior  Court  Judge  E.  Mac Amos, Jr. issued a Statement of Decision finding
that  subsidiary  US  Ecology,  Inc.  had  failed  to establish causation in its
promissory  estoppel  claim against the State of California. The March 26 ruling
further  stated  that  US  Ecology's  claim is barred by the doctrine of unclean
hands.  The  latter finding was based on actions the Court concluded had created
obstacles  to  an  agreement  to  convey  the Ward Valley property to the State.

     In  May  2000,  US Ecology sued the State of California, its Governor, Gray
Davis,  the  Director  of  its  Department  of  Health  Services and other State
agencies  for  monetary  damages exceeding $162 million. The suit stems from the
State's  abandonment  of  the  Ward Valley project. The ruling, if upheld, would
absolve the State from any financial obligation for costs previously incurred by
US  Ecology  to  develop  the  project.

     "We  are  now  analyzing  the  Statement of Decision with the assistance of
legal counsel," Romano stated, adding, "the Company will be evaluating its legal
options  based  on  this  analysis."

     While  ruling  in  favor  of  the  State,  Judge Amos did find that certain
elements  of  the  Company's  promissory  estoppel  claim  had been established.
Specifically,  the  Court  ruled  that  the State of California made a clear and
unambiguous promise to US Ecology in 1988 to use its best efforts to acquire the
Ward  Valley  site,  that  the  State subsequently abandoned this promise during
Governor  Davis'  administration, and that the Company's reliance on the State's
promise  was reasonable. However, the Court found that the State's breach of its
best  efforts  promise  was  not  a  substantial factor in causing damages to US
Ecology  since the federal government had continued to resist the land transfer.


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     Speaking  on  the  financial  impact of the ruling, Jim Baumgardner, Senior
Vice  President and Chief Financial Officer stated, "The Company is no longer in
a position to conclude from an accounting standpoint that it is more likely than
not  that  it  will  recover  its  investment  in the project. Consequently, the
Company  will  write  down  the  $21  million in Ward Valley assets in the first
quarter  of  2003."  American Ecology reported net total assets of approximately
$87  million  at  December 31, 2002. "While negatively impacting earnings during
the  quarter and year, the decision to write down Ward Valley assets has no cash
impact to the Company," Baumgardner added, concluding, "the Company continues to
possess  sufficient  financial  wherewithal  to meet its ongoing obligations and
execute  its  current  business  plan."

     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. Actual results may differ
materially  from what is expressed herein and no assurance can be given that the
company  can  generate  future  earnings,  successfully  appeal  the Ward Valley
ruling,  or prevail in other pending litigation. 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 filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.

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