Retired Three Star General Richard Swope Stands for Election to Americ

Retired Three Star General Richard Swope Stands for Election to American Ecology Board

    Business Editors

    BOISE, Idaho--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 30, 2005--

2005 Directors Slate Announced For Vote at May 25 Annual Shareholders Meeting
    Stephen Romano, President and Chief Executive Officer of American Ecology Corporation (Nasdaq:ECOL), today announced that Lieutenant General Richard T. Swope, retired, is standing for election to the Company's Board of Directors at its Annual Shareholders Meeting in Boise, Idaho on May 25, 2005.
    "As former Inspector General in the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, General Swope offers a valuable ethics and oversight perspective," Romano stated, adding "The Company also stands to benefit from his advice and assistance in expanding American Ecology's business serving the U.S. Air Force and other Department of Defense customers."
    Seven current directors -- Board Chairman Rotchford L. Barker, Roy C. Eliff, Edward F. Heil, Jimmy D. Ross, Richard Riazzi, Kenneth C. Leung and Romano -- join General Swope on the 2005 Board slate.
    In his position as Inspector General for the Air Force, General Swope oversaw inspection policy, criminal investigations, counterintelligence operations, fraud, waste and abuse programs, intelligence oversight and the Air Force Inspection Agency and Office of Special Investigations. After retiring from the military in 1998, Swope worked for Lockheed Martin. He later accepted a position with Cypress International, a Washington, D.C. area firm specializing in Department of Defense support. Among his military assignments, General Swope also served as Assistant Chief of Staff for operations and logistics for Allied Forces in Central Europe and commanded air wings in Guam, Germany and Japan. General Swope is a rated command pilot of F-4, F-15 and F-16 aircraft and has logged more than 300 combat hours.
    Current Directors David B. Anderson and Stephen M. Schutt are not standing for re-election due to competing time commitments. "American Ecology thanks David and Steve for their substantial contributions to the Company's recent success," 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, American Ecology 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, generate future earnings, or expand its services to the U.S. Department of Defense. 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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CONTACT: American Ecology Corporation Chad Hyslop, 208-331-8400 chyslop@americanecology.com www.americanecology.com

KEYWORD: IDAHO INDUSTRY KEYWORD: GOVERNMENT CHEMICALS/PLASTICS ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT CHANGES SOURCE: American Ecology Corporation

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