American Ecology Unit Wins Award For OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS in Water Quality at Oak Ridge Facility.

OAK RIDGE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 1, 1999--

Citing outstanding accomplishments in meeting and exceeding federal water quality standards, the Kentucky-Tennessee Water Environment Association has awarded its "Pretreatment Excellence Award" to the Oak Ridge, Tenn., operations of American Ecology Corporation's (Nasdaq:ECOL) US Ecology unit.

"US Ecology has demonstrated outstanding achievements in managing the disposal of its waste streams at the Oak Ridge facility and in meeting all aspects of water quality requirements under the federal Clean Water Act," said Bruce Giles, a spokesman for the association and an environmental compliance officer with the City of Oak Ridge. The Kentucky-Tennessee association is affiliated with some 40,000-water quality experts that comprise the Water Environment Federation.

"This award reflects the great strides and exemplary efforts that US Ecology has made," Giles said. "While the award stipulates a zero-violation record for one year, US Ecology has a history of flawless compliance for the last three years."

US Ecology operates low-level radioactive waste processing and recycling centers at Oak Ridge. "This award illustrates the commitment that American Ecology's people have made to meet and even exceed the environmental standards that measure our daily business activities at Oak Ridge," said Joe Nagel, president and chief operating officer of American Ecology. "It's a fitting tribute to the professionalism of all the employees of the American Ecology organization."