两个属于均可用于指根据美国联邦法律Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA)所采取的减轻和消灭污染之行为。区别在于remedial action 旨在恢复长期环境质量（to effect long-term restoration of environmental quality)，永久性减轻或消除有毒物质的排放，减少对公共健康和环境的危害，故为“长期补救恢复行为”[1]。而 removal action之目的则是临时减轻或清除污染，如有毒物质等， 其为一种短期性行为（short-term abatement and clear-up of pollution[2])，故其应为污染物的“临时淸除行为”。

[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