What is a spoil pile?

A spoil pile refers to a mound of excavated soil that is not needed for backfill. During earthwork operations, when soil is removed from the ground for a project—such as excavation for foundations, grading, or trenches—the excess soil that isn’t returned to the site is placed in a mound, which is known as a spoil pile. This soil may be kept on-site for potential use later or may be transported to a different location for disposal or use elsewhere. Understanding the role of spoil piles is crucial for effective site management and ensuring that the earthwork process is executed efficiently without unnecessary waste of materials.

The other choices describe concepts that do not accurately define what a spoil pile is; structures to support soil, soil stabilization techniques, or legal requirements do not directly pertain to the concept of spoil piles in earthwork.