August 23, 2013

Minnesota DNR Announces Publication Date for PolyMet Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement

St. Paul, Minnesota, August 23, 2013 – PolyMet Mining Corp. (TSX: POM; NYSE MKT: PLM) (PolyMet or the Company) is pleased to report that the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (“DNR”) has announced that the 1,800 page NorthMet supplemental draft Environmental Impact Statement (“EIS”) will be available for public review on November 22, 2013 when it will be published in the Federal Register. It will then be published in the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board Monitor on November 25, 2013. The DNR news release has been posted at: http://news.dnr.state.mn.us/

The NorthMet Project, located in the Mesabi Iron Range mining district in northeastern Minnesota, comprises reutilizing the Erie Plant and developing a new open pit mine to extract copper, nickel, and platinum group metals from the NorthMet ore body located six miles east of the Erie Plant.

In response to the DNR announcement, Jon Cherry, President and CEO of PolyMet stated, “PolyMet has worked diligently over the past three-and-a-half years to improve the project design, and to complete the analysis and technical studies for the NorthMet Project as requested by the government agencies. PolyMet will continue to be supportive of the process, which is in the best interest of the community and protecting Minnesota’s environment.”

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About PolyMet

PolyMet Mining Corp. (www.polymetmining.com) is a publicly-traded mine development company that owns 100% of Poly Met Mining, Inc., a Minnesota corporation that controls 100% of the NorthMet copper-nickel-precious metals ore body through a long-term lease and owns 100% of the Erie Plant, a large processing facility located approximately six miles from the ore body in the established mining district of the Mesabi Range in northeastern Minnesota. Poly Met Mining, Inc. has completed its Definitive Feasibility Study and is seeking environmental and operating permits to enable it to commence production. The NorthMet Project is expected to require approximately two million hours of construction labor, creating approximately 360 long-term jobs, a level of activity that will have a significant multiplier effect in the local economy.

PolyMet Mining Corp

Per:Jon Cherry
_______________________
Jon Cherry, CEO

For further information, please contact:

Corporate
Douglas Newby
Chief Financial Officer
Tel: +1 (651) 389-4105
dnewby@polymetmining.com

Media
LaTisha Gietzen
VP Public, Govt & Environmental Affairs
Tel: +1 (218) 471-2150
lgietzen@polymetmining.com

Investors
PolyMet
Jenny Knudson
VP Investor Relations
Tel: +1 (651) 389-4110
jknudson@polymetmining.com

MZ North America
Pascal Nigen
Senior Vice-President
Tel: +1 (212) 301-7149
pnigen@mzgroup.us
www.mzgroup.us

 

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements concerning anticipated developments in PolyMet’s operations in the future. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such asexpects, anticipates, believes, intends, estimates, potential, possible, projects, plans, and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions or results will, may, could, or should occur or be achieved or their negatives or other comparable words. These forward-looking statements may include statements regarding our beliefs related to the closing of the Rights Offering, the ability to receive environmental and operating permits, job creation, or other statements that are not a statement of fact. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements due to risks facing PolyMet or due to actual facts differing from the assumptions underlying its predictions.

PolyMet’s forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, expectations and opinions of management on the date the statements are made, and PolyMet does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or managements beliefs, expectations and opinions should change.

Specific reference is made to PolyMet’s most recentAnnual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2013 and in our other filings with Canadian securities authorities and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Report on Form 6-K providing information with respect to our operations for the three months ended April 30, 2013for a discussion of some of the risk factors and other considerations underlying forward-looking statements.

The TSX has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

PolyMet has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, for the offering to which this communication relates. Before investing, prospective investors should read the prospectus in that registration statement and other documents the issuer has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, for more complete information about PolyMet and this offering. The documents are available free of charge by visiting EDGAR on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, PolyMet will arrange to send you the prospectus if you request it by calling1-416 915-4149.