PolyMet Acquires Control of Wetlands

ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA -- (Marketwire) -- 02/29/12 -- PolyMet Mining Corp. (TSX: POM)(NYSE Amex: PLM) ('PolyMet' or the 'Company') today announced that, through its wholly owned US subsidiary, it has acquired control of land that it plans to restore to wetlands. PolyMet controls 100% of the development-stage NorthMet copper-nickel-precious metals ore-body and the nearby Erie Plant, located near Hoyt Lakes in the established mining district of the Mesabi Iron Range in northeastern Minnesota.

PolyMet has entered into an agreement with AG for Waterfowl, LLP ('AG') whereby PolyMet will pay AG US$2.0 million cash and issue 2,788,902 of its common shares and a warrant to purchase 1,083,333 of its common shares at US$1.50 per share at any time until December 31, 2015 in exchange for a mortgage over land currently in agricultural use that AG will restore to wetlands.

The transaction will close upon approval by appropriate securities regulatory authorities, which is anticipated in early March.

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-and-a-quarter million hours of construction labor and create approximately 360 long-term jobs, a level of activity that will have a significant multiplier effect in the local economy.

POLYMET MINING CORP.

Joe Scipioni, CEO

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,' '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 expected proceeds and closing of the registered direct offering, exploration results and budgets, reserve estimates, mineral resource estimates, work programs, capital expenditures, actions by government authorities, including changes in government regulation, the market price of natural resources, 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 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 management's beliefs, expectations and opinions should change.

Specific reference is made to PolyMet's most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2011 and in our other filings with Canadian securities authorities and the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Report on Form 6-K providing information with respect to our operations for the year ended January 31, 2011 for a discussion of some of the risk factors and other considerations underlying forward-looking statements. PolyMet's Quarterly Report for the three months ended April 30, 2011 included a detailed description of the transition to IFRS.

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 (651) 389-4105
dnewby@polymetmining.com


PolyMet Mining Corp. - Media

LaTisha Gietzen

VP Public, Gov't & Environmental Affairs

+1 (218) 471-2157
lgietzen@polymetmining.com


PolyMet Mining Corp. - Investors

Crystal Agresti

+1 (651) 389-4104
cagresti@polymetmining.com


PolyMet Mining Corp. - Investors

Alex Macdougall

+1 (226) 663-3000
macdougall_consult@yahoo.com
www.polymetmining.com