8-K

 
                      Securities and Exchange Commission
                            Washington, D.C. 20549



                                   FORM 8-K



                                Current Report
                        Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
                    of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


               Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)
                               February 9, 1995


                         AMERICAN ECOLOGY CORPORATION
                    --------------------------------------
                         (Exact name of registrant as
                           specified in its charter)


   Delaware                        0-11688                        95-3889638
- - - --------------                 --------------                 -----------------
(State or other                  (Commission                    (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of                  File Number)                  Identification
incorporation)                                                     Number)



                          5333 Westheimer, Suite 1000
                             Houston, Texas 77056
                          ----------------------------
                   (Address of principal executive offices)



       Registrant's telephone number, including area code (713) 624-1900

 
ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS

    On February 9, 1995, Jack C. Lemley was named chief executive officer, 
president and chief operating officer of American Ecology Corporation. He 
succeeds Harry J. Phillips, Jr. who continues as chairman of the board of 
directors. A copy the Company's press release dated February 9, 1995 is attached
hereto as Exhibit A and is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 7. EXHIBITS

    Exhibit A. Press Release of American Ecology Corporation dated February 9, 
    1995.


                                  SIGNATURES

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the 
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the 
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

                                    AMERICAN ECOLOGY CORPORATION




Dated February 15, 1995             By: /s/ Stephen W. Travers
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                    Name: Stephen W. Travers
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                    Title: General Counsel and Secretary
                                          --------------------------------------

EX-99

                  AMERICAN ECOLOGY CORPORATION PRESS RELEASE

 
Lemley Becomes CEO of American Ecology, Phillips Remains As Chairman

(HOUSTON) February 9, 1995--Jack K. Lemley has been named chief executive 
officer and president of American Ecology Corporation, a hazardous waste 
treatment and disposal company. He succeeds Harry J. Phillips, Jr. who continues
as chairman of the board of directors.

    Mr. Lemley, 59, who has been a director of American Ecology since 1992, 
achieved worldwide recognition as chief executive of Transmarche-Link JV which 
designed and built the Channel Tunnel providing train service between England 
and France. He left that position in 1993. Over the years, he has served as a 
management consultant to many leading construction, manufacturing and 
engineering companies. He was also named chief operating officer.

    Mr. Lemley noted, "American Ecology has a very promising future, is well 
positioned and will benefit significantly from an improvement in the hazardous 
waste business."

    Mr. Phillips 45, had been chief executive officer of American Ecology since 
1991. Under Mr. Phillip's leadership, the Company's sales rose from $56 million 
in 1991 to $72 million in 1994. Mr. Phillips said, "The company has achieved 
many of the goals I set for it. Jack Lemley is superbly equipped to lead the 
company and to accelerate its cost reduction program."

    American Ecology operates a chemical waste disposal facility in Nevada and 
two in Texas. The Company also operates a low-level radioactive waste (LLRW) 
disposal facility in Washington, has received a license approval for a similar 
facility in California, has a license application pending for a LLRW disposal 
facility in Nebraska, and operates a LLRW processing facility in Tennessee. 
Services provided by the Company include waste packaging, transportation, 
consulting, pretreatment, disposal, fuels blending, recycling, and clean-up 
services. The Company's common stock trades on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the
symbol ECOL.