Book excerpt: This document is a summary of short-term actions (removals) undertaken by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Coast Guard in response to hazardous substance incidents. The document presents a historical perspective of the program, summarizing short-term actions completed during the five-year authorized funding period of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), December 11, 1980, through September 30, 1985 and those actions taken during October 1, 1985 through September 30, 1986 that were funded primarily by two special appropriations from Congress. The Superfund Emergency Response Actions summary is the first document to be published aggregating short-term response information for all six years. As the Superfund removal program continues, EPA intends to publish annual updates of the document. Volume 2 Serves as the second annual report for public use on short-term removal actions undertaken by EPA between October 1986 and June 1988.