Tailings and Mine Waste '08 contains papers from the twelfth annual Tailings and Mine Waste Conference, held by Colorado State University of Fort Collins, Colorado. The purpose of this series of conferences is to provide a forum for discussion and establishment of dialogue among all people in the mining industry and environmental community regarding tailings and mine waste. Previous conferences have been successful in providing opportunities for formal and informal discussion, exhibits by equipment and instrumentation companies, technical exhibits, and general social interaction.