Ronald R. Potesta, of Charleston, WV was elected Chairman of The Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO). ORSANCO is the water pollution control agency for the Ohio River representing Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.

ORSANCO operates water quality programs through representation from its eight member states. Twenty-seven Commissioners are appointed from the member states and the federal government. In addition, numerous ORSANCO committees address specific Ohio River water quality topics and interests. Potesta will serve as Chairman to this extensive network of Ohio River representatives.

ORSANCO has benefited from Potesta's leadership and commitment to ORSANCO. He was appointed to the Commission in 1987 and has served as Chairman twice previously.

Mr. Potesta is President of Potesta & Associates, Inc., an engineering and environmental consulting firm with offices in Charleston and Morgantown, WV and Winchester, Virginia. He is a former Director of the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources.

Mr. Potesta serves on several boards including West Virginia Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation Program Committee, The West Virginia Land and Mineral Owners Association.

"ORSANCO pioneered water quality initiatives in the Ohio River Basin long before there was a Clean Water Act and remains relevant today in its efforts to continue improvements in the River." said Potesta. 

He assumed office July 1. In addition to electing Potesta, ORSANCO also elected John Kupke (Indiana Commissioner) as Vice-Chair and Charles Duritsa (Pennsylvania Commissioner) as Secretary-Treasurer.