DEBT

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

DEBT

DEBT

NOTE 12. DEBT

        On October 29, 2010, we entered a credit agreement (the "Credit Agreement") with Wells Fargo National Association ("Wells Fargo") which provides for an aggregate commitment from Wells Fargo of $95.0 million. The Credit Agreement provides for a $20.0 million revolving line of credit (the "Revolving Line of Credit") with a maturity date of June 15, 2013 and a $75.0 million reducing revolving line of credit (the "Reducing Revolving Line of Credit") with a maturity date of November 1, 2015.

Revolving Line of Credit

        The Revolving Line of Credit provides up to $20.0 million in revolving credit loans or letters of credit for working capital needs (the "Commitment Amount"). Under the Revolving Line of Credit, revolving loans are available based on the Prime Rate or LIBOR, at the Company's option, plus an applicable margin, which is determined according to a pricing grid under which the interest rate decreases or increases based on our ratio of funded debt to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA"). At December 31, 2011, the effective interest rate on the Revolving Line of Credit was 1.92%. Interest only payments are due either monthly or on the last day of any interest period, as applicable. At December 31, 2011 there was $68,000 outstanding under the Revolving Line of Credit. The availability under the Revolving Line of Credit was $15.9 million with $4.0 million of the line of credit issued in the form of a standby letter of credit utilized as collateral for closure and post-closure financial assurance.

Reducing Revolving Line of Credit

        The Reducing Revolving Line of Credit provides an initial commitment amount of $75.0 million, the proceeds of which were used to acquire all of the shares of Stablex, and thereafter will be used to provide financing for working capital needs (the "Reducing Revolving Commitment Amount"). The initial Reducing Revolving Commitment Amount is reduced by $2.8 million on the last day of each June, September, December and March beginning June 30, 2011, continuing through November 1, 2015. Under the Reducing Revolving Line of Credit revolving loans are available based on the Prime Rate or LIBOR, at the Company's option, plus an applicable margin, which is determined according to a pricing grid under which the interest rate decreases or increases based on our ratio of funded debt to EBITDA. At December 31, 2011, the effective interest rate of the Reducing Revolving Line of Credit was 2.45%. Interest only payments are due either monthly or on the last day of any interest period, as applicable. At December 31, 2011, there was $40.5 million outstanding on the Reducing Revolving Line of Credit with availability for additional borrowings totaling $26.2 million

        In addition to standard fees, there are origination fees and commitment fees based on the average daily unused portion of the Commitment Amount and the Reducing Revolving Commitment Amount. The Credit Agreement contains certain quarterly financial covenants, including a maximum funded debt ratio, a maximum fixed charge coverage ratio, a minimum required tangible net worth and a minimum current ratio. In addition, we may only declare quarterly or annual dividends if on the date of declaration, no event of default has occurred, or no other event or condition has occurred that would constitute an event of default after giving effect to the payment of the dividend. Obligations under the Credit Agreement are guaranteed by US Ecology and all of its subsidiaries.

        At December 31, 2011, we were in compliance with all of the financial covenants in the Credit Agreement.