DENVER, CO--(Marketwire - January 22, 2013) - Thompson Creek Metals Company Inc. ("Thompson Creek" or the "Company") (NYSE: TC) (TSX: TCM), a growing, diversified North American mining company, today announced that, on January 14, 2013, the Company received notification from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans approving its fish habitat compensation plan, as required by Environment Canada's Metal Mining Effluent Regulations. This approval was the final step to authorize deposition of tailings material into the zero discharge tailings storage facility at the Company's Mt. Milligan project and the final authorization required to operate the Mt. Milligan copper-gold mine.

The Mt. Milligan project remains on schedule with commissioning and start-up expected in the third quarter of 2013, and commercial production of copper and gold expected in the fourth quarter of 2013. The mine has an estimated life-of-mine of approximately 22 years.

Mr. Kevin Loughrey, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, "We are extremely pleased to have received this approval and are committed to working with all levels of government and communities to maintain the highest standards of environmental stewardship. There are no outstanding permits or authorizations required to begin operations and we are confident Mt. Milligan will start-up as planned in the third quarter of this year."

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