-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Bz2NfCAc0gzSgsSnfgSVHWWXONE1fg8KHgjJDshfLaTWl0BX6WmQ0nVWBUpA3mX5
 EgznKgNLUDAPy6u68qhZmw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001140361-03-002245.txt : 20030701
<SEC-HEADER>0001140361-03-002245.hdr.sgml : 20030701
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030701111921
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001140361-03-002245
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030630
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030701

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BARKER ROTCHFORD L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001202071

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-11688
		FILM NUMBER:		03766854

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1221 W IDAHO ST
		CITY:			BOISE
		STATE:			ID
		ZIP:			83702

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AMERICAN ECOLOGY CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000742126
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REFUSE SYSTEMS [4953]
		IRS NUMBER:				953889638
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		805 W IDAHO
		STREET 2:		STE 200
		CITY:			BOSIE
		STATE:			ID
		ZIP:			83702
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2083318400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		805 W IDAHO
		STREET 2:		STE 200
		CITY:			BOISE
		STATE:			ID
		ZIP:			83702
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc1.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-06-30</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000742126</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AMERICAN ECOLOGY CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ECOL</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
<reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001202071</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BARKER ROTCHFORD L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector>
<isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle></officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeSecurity>
<securityTitle>
<value>Common Stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate>
<value>2003-06-30</value>
</transactionDate>
<deemedExecutionDate>
<value>2003-06-30</value>
</deemedExecutionDate>
<transactionCoding>
<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionTimeliness>
<value></value>
</transactionTimeliness>
<transactionAmounts>
<transactionShares>
<value>1455</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"/>
</transactionShares>
<transactionValue>
<value>2.75</value>
</transactionValue>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
<value>A</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>3373030</value>
<footnoteId id="F2"/>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeSecurity>
<footnotes>
<footnote id="F1">Transaction represents 1455 common shares received for Directors fee</footnote>
<footnote id="F2">Mr Barker also owns 57500 stock options with various terms</footnote>
</footnotes>
<ownerSignature>
<signatureName>Rotchford L. Barker</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-07-01</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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