A cleanup process that addresses immediate threats to public health and the environment that typically consist of less complex or less extensive contamination problems than those which require a long-term cleanup. There are three types of short-term cleanups: emergencies (e.g., fire or explosions), time-critical actions, and non-time-critical actions. Short-term cleanups are also referred to as removal actions.

In the Butte area, both short-term and long-term cleanup strategies have been used to address different types of environmental problems.