Exhibit 99
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release / October 1, 2004
Contact: Chad Hyslop (208) 331-8400
info@americanecology.com     www.americanecology.com
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                  TEXAS REGULATORY AGENCY PROPOSES AGREED ORDER
                     FOR AMERICAN ECOLOGY'S TEXAS SUBSIDIARY

     BOISE, Idaho - American Ecology Corporation [NASDAQ:ECOL] today announced
that on September 29, 2004 the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
("TCEQ") proposed an Agreed Order (the "Order") for US Ecology Texas, the
Company's wholly-owned subsidiary near Robstown, Texas. The proposed Order
relates to the July 1, 2004 fire in the facility's containment building and
alleged violations noted during TCEQ inspections conducted at the facility
earlier this year. The Order also proposes an administrative penalty of
$138,320.

     In the proposed Order the TCEQ alleges violations of the Texas Health &
Safety Code, the Texas Water Code, TCEQ rules, and the facility's permits during
inspections of the Company's hazardous waste treatment, storage and disposal
facility between January 28 and August 13, 2004. The proposed Order identifies
the alleged violations, recognizes corrective measures already taken by the
Company, and proposes the technical requirements necessary to resolve the
alleged violations.

     US Ecology Texas has 60 days in which to reach agreement with the TCEQ. If
the Company and the TCEQ reach agreement in a timely manner, the TCEQ will then
proceed with the remaining steps to fully settle the matter. The Company is
carefully evaluating the Order and will continue its discussions with the TCEQ
in an effort to bring this matter to a close.

     Company management will discuss the proposed Order on its
regularly-scheduled third quarter investor conference call to be held Wednesday,
October 20, 2004 at 10:00 am Mountain Time.  Interested parties may participate
by dialing 877-331-8343.

     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
management's 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
generate earnings, that additional penalties or violations will not be assessed
against its Texas subsidiary, or that the Company will reach agreement with its
regulators in Texas on this matter. 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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