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                                                                    EXHIBIT 5.1

July 31, 2001




American Ecology Corporation
805 West Idaho, Suite 200
Boise, Idaho  83702


Ladies and Gentlemen:

         I have acted as Secretary and General Counsel to American Ecology
Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and am rendering this
opinion in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the
"Registration Statement") filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange
Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Registration
Statement relates to the offering and sale to director's of the Company an
additional 350,000 shares of the Company's common stock, $.01 per share par
value (the "Common Stock"), which may be issued upon either the exercise of
options which may be granted under the Company's Amended and Restated 1992
Director's Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") or as provided in the Plan. Such
350,000 shares of Common Stock are collectively referred to herein as the
"Additional Shares".

         In such capacity, I have examined the corporate documents of the
Company, including its Restated Certificate of Incorporation, its Bylaws, each
amended to date, the Plan and resolutions adopted by the Company's board of
directors and stockholders. I have also examined the Registration Statement,
together with the exhibits thereto, and such other documents which I have deemed
necessary for the purposes of expressing the opinion contained herein.

         Based upon the foregoing, I am of the opinion that, when Additional
Shares have been duly issued in accordance with the applicable terms and
conditions of the Plan, the Common Stock so issued will be validly issued, fully
paid and non-assessable.

         I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement.

Very Truly Yours,



Robert M. Trimble
General Counsel

RMT/ajr


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