Exhibit 99.1
May 10, 2010	Release 05-2010
WESTERN COPPER’S CARMACKS PROJECT WATER USE LICENCE DECISION

VANCOUVER, B.C. Western Copper Corporation (“Western Copper” or the “Company”) (TSX:WRN) was notified today by the Yukon Water Board that the Carmacks Copper Project’s (“Project”) Water Use Licence application has been denied.

Western Copper is disappointed by this unexpected decision.

The Company is concerned that the decision of the Yukon Water Board is inconsistent with previous decisions of the Executive Committee of the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board, and the Yukon Government which, after a lengthy environmental assessment process, determined that the Project should be allowed to proceed and issued the Project a Quartz Mining Licence allowing construction to commence.

The Company will be reviewing the decision in more detail and determining its next course of action.

ABOUT WESTERN COPPER CORPORATION

Western Copper is a Vancouver based exploration and development company with significant copper, gold and molybdenum resources and reserves. The Company has 100% ownership of four Canadian properties. The two most advanced projects are the Carmacks Copper Project and the Casino Project both located in the Yukon. The Casino Project is one of the world's largest open-pittable copper, gold and molybdenum deposits. For more information, visit www.westerncoppercorp.com

On behalf of the board,

“Dale Corman”

F. Dale Corman

Chairman & CEO

For more information please contact Paul West-Sells, President & COO or Chiara Orrigoni, Manager Investor Relations at 604.684.9497 or email info@westerncoppercorp.com

The Toronto Stock Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the contents of this news release.

This press release includes certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, including without limitation, statements regarding potential mineralization and reserves, financing plans, exploration results and future plans and objectives of Western Copper are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors: The United States Securities and Exchange Commission permits U.S. mining companies, in their filings with the SEC, to disclose only those mineral deposits that a company can economically and legally extract or produce. Certain terms, such as “measured,” “indicated,” and “inferred” “resources,” are used in the Company's disclosure documents filed in Canada that the SEC guidelines strictly prohibit U.S. registered companies from including in their filings with the SEC. U.S. investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in Western Copper’s Form 20-F, File No. 000-52231, which may be secured from the Company, or from the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml.

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2050–1111 West Georgia St, Vancouver, B.C., Canada V6E 4M3   |   T 604.684.9497 F 604.669.2926   |   www.westerncoppercorp.com