PolyMet Draft EIS Available the Week of October 19, 2009

HOYT LAKES, MINNESOTA, Oct 05 (MARKET WIRE) --
PolyMet Mining Corp. (TSX: POM)(NYSE Amex: PLM) ("PolyMet" or the
"Company") reported the following announcement by the Minnesota
Department of Natural Resources:

October 2, 2009 - The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
announced today that the state's public comment period for the draft
environmental impact statement (draft EIS) for PolyMet Mining's proposed
NorthMet project will begin on Nov. 2 when the draft EIS is published in
the biweekly Environmental Quality Board Monitor.

The draft EIS will be available on the DNR Web site the week of Oct. 19.
DNR staff is concluding an internal review process to ensure that the
draft EIS reflects comments from government agencies, and performing
internal consistency checks on the document.

PolyMet's proposed nonferrous mining project would be the first
copper-nickel mine and processing plant in Minnesota. The project raises
potential environmental concerns that are different from those associated
with taconite, or ferrous, mining that have added to the complexity of
the environmental review process.

The DNR and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) are the lead state
and federal agencies charged with drafting the EIS to describe the
potential significant environmental impacts of the proposed project.

The DNR will schedule two public information meetings during the public
comment period, one in the Hoyt Lakes area and one in the Minneapolis-St.
Paul area. Following the public comment period, the draft EIS will be
revised as needed, including responses to comments in the final EIS. This
can take several months to complete.

The USACE will publish its own draft EIS in the Federal Register on the
Friday immediately following publication in the Environmental Quality
Board Monitor.

The EIS drafting process began in April 2006 following a public scoping
period.

Located near Hoyt Lakes in northeastern Minnesota, the NorthMet mine
would have an anticipated operating life of 20 years. It would be subject
to several state and federal operating permits requiring monitoring and
mitigation during operation and after closure.

For more information on the proposed project, go to:
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/input/environmentalreview/polymet/index.html

About PolyMet

PolyMet Mining Corp. (www.polymetmining.com) is a publicly-traded mine
development company 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. PolyMet Mining Corp. 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 one million man hours of
construction labor and create at least 400 long-term jobs, a level of
activity that will have a significant multiplier effect in the local
economy.

POLYMET MINING CORP.

Joe Scipioni, President

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 as "expects," "anticipates," "believes," "intends,"
"estimates," "potential," "possible," and similar expressions, or
statements that events, conditions or results "will," "may," "could," or
"should" occur or be achieved. These forward-looking statements may
include statements regarding exploration results and budgets, reserve
estimates, mineral resource estimates, work programs, capital
expenditures, timelines including timelines for third-party studies and
issuance of permits to operate by various government agencies, strategic
plans, the market price of metals, costs, or other statements that are
not a statement of fact. Forward-looking statements address future events
and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties.
Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in
such statements due to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other
factors. 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 management's beliefs,
expectations and opinions should change.

Specific reference is made to PolyMet's most recent Form 20-F/Annual
Information Form on file with the SEC and Canadian securities authorities
for 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.

Contacts:
PolyMet Mining Corp. - Corporate
Douglas Newby
Chief Financial Officer
+1 (646) 879-5970
dnewby@polymetmining.com

PolyMet Mining Corp. - Media
LaTisha Gietzen
VP Public, Governmental and Environmental Affairs
+1 (218) 225-4417
lgietzen@polymetmining.com
www.polymetmining.com

KCSA Strategic Communications - Investors
Crystal Agresti
+1 (212) 896-1273

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