Heavy metal sludges, oils and organic solvents were deposited at the 35-acre Batavia Landfill in western New York State from the 1960s until 1980. Inadequate disposal of drummed and undrummed industrial wastes resulted in chemicals entering the groundwater and migrating into wetlands.

Contamination of wetlands and groundwater at and adjacent to the Batavia Landfill site reduced the quality of the wetland habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife. The contamination of food and water in the wetlands resulted in the loss and impairment of habitat for plants and animals in the wetlands. Biological diversity was reduced because the impaired habitat supported fewer invertebrates, amphibians like leopard frogs and migratory birds – including songbirds like Savannah sparrow and indigo bunting – and other wildlife. In addition, site clean-up itself injured 3 acres of wetlands.