Lakewood, Colorado - Rare Element Resources Ltd. (TSX: RES and NYSE-Amex: REE) announced that its 2011 seasonal exploration and drilling program has concluded at the Bear Lodge property, located in northeast Wyoming.

Dr. Jim Clark, Vice President-Exploration stated, "We had a record year of drilling with excellent results, as indicated in our initial exploration update press releases of October 4 and October 27, 2011. Additional assay results will be received from the bulk of the drill holes over the next few months. We anticipate continuing our exploration efforts as the weather improves in 2012. The results of the initial drilling data are being modeled and incorporated into an updated resource model that will be part of the Prefeasibility Study scheduled for release during the first quarter of 2012. Updating of all resource estimates is expected in the spring of 2012."

Total drill footage for the program is 48,473.5 feet in 63 REE drill holes distributed as follows:

In addition to the development and exploration core drilling, an additional 37 large diameter core holes were completed to provide bulk sample material for metallurgical test work. Several 55 gallon barrels of surface mineralized material were also collected for the test work. Total bulk sample material collected through large diameter core and surface sampling is summarized below:

A total of 34 drill holes were completed this year for the benefit of the gold exploration program. The gold drilling was distributed as follows:

A CSAMT (Controlled Source AudiMagneto Telluric) geophysical survey was conducted in support of both the gold and REE exploration programs.

Rare Element Resources Ltd (TSX: RES & AMEX: REE) is a publicly traded mineral resource company focused on exploration and development of rare-earth elements and gold on the Bear Lodge property.

Rare-earth elements are key components of the green energy technologies and other high-technology applications. Some of the major applications include hybrid automobiles, plug-in electric automobiles, advanced wind turbines, computer hard drives, compact fluorescent light bulbs, metal alloys, additives in ceramics and glass, petroleum cracking catalysts, and a number of critical military applications. China currently produces more than 95% of the 130,000 metric tonnes of rare-earths consumed annually worldwide, and China has been reducing its exports of rare earths each year. The rare-earth market is growing rapidly, and is projected to accelerate if the green technologies are implemented on a broad scale.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
www.rareelementresources.com
or
Anne Hite, Director of Investor Relations, 720.278.2466

Donald E. Ranta, PhD, PGeo, serves the Board of Directors of the Company as an internal, technically Qualified Person. Technical information in this news release has been reviewed by Dr. Ranta and has been prepared in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirements that are set out in National Instrument 43-101. This news release was prepared by Company management, who take full responsibility for content. Neither Toronto Stock Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

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