兩個屬于均可用于指根據(jù)美國聯(lián)邦法律Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA)所采取的減輕和消滅污染之行為。區(qū)別在于remedial action 旨在恢復(fù)長期環(huán)境質(zhì)量（to effect long-term restoration of environmental quality)，永久性減輕或消除有毒物質(zhì)的排放，減少對公共健康和環(huán)境的危害，故為“長期補救恢復(fù)行為”[1]。而 removal action之目的則是臨時減輕或清除污染，如有毒物質(zhì)等， 其為一種短期性行為（short-term abatement and clear-up of pollution[2])，故其應(yīng)為污染物的“臨時淸除行為”。

[1]“An action intended to bring about or restore long-term environmental quality； esp.，under CERCLA，a measure intended to permanently alleviate pollution when a hazardous substance has been released or might be released into the environment, so as to prevent or minimize any further release of hazardous substances and thereby minimize the risk to public health or to the enviromuent. ”Cf. Bryan A. Gamer, Black's Law Dictionary, 7th edition, at p. 1296, West Group (1999).

[2]“An action, esp. under CERCLA, intended to bring about the short-term abatement and cleanup of pollution ( as by removing and disposing of toxic materials. * Id. at p. 1298