MPCA Commissioner's Office

Paul Eger, MPCA Commissioner

Gov. Tim Pawlenty appointed Paul Eger Commissioner of the MPCA on January 26, 2009.  Since August of 2008, Eger had been the agency's Deputy Commissioner. 

Eger has also served as MPCA's Assistant Commissioner for water quality policy matters.  As such, he oversaw agency programs and activities to maintain and improve the quality of Minnesota's lakes, rivers and streams.

Paul joined the agency in 2002, serving as a legislative liaison, where he represented the agency on legislative and statewide environmental policy matters.  Paul then went on to serve as manager of the MPCA’s Clean Water Legacy Act efforts.

Paul has a master's degree in public administration from Hamline University and an undergraduate degree in political science from Saint Olaf College.

Tim Scherkenbach, Acting Deputy Commissioner

Tim Scherkenbach is the Acting Deputy Commissioner at the MPCA. He is responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of land program policies including remediation, hazardous waste, solid waste, and tanks.  His additional responsibilities include promotion of pollution prevention strategies and leading efforts to address emerging contaminant issues.   

Mr. Scherkenbach joined the MPCA in 1972.  Most recently, Mr. Scherkenbach served as the Remediation Division Director and as the director for Governor Pawlenty’s Clean Water Cabinet, simultaneously.  Tim also served as the director for the Hazardous Waste Division, the Policy and Planning Division, and Water Quality Division. 

Scherkenbach is a graduate of the University of Minnesota, with a degree in chemical engineering.

Tim is originally from Virginia, Minnesota.  He is most proud to be the father of three and grandfather of five.  He incorporates that pride into his environmental philosophy to leave things better for the next generation.

Rebecca Flood, Assistant Commissioner

Rebecca Flood joined the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency in October 2008 as the Assistant Commissioner for water policy matters.  In this role, she oversees the agency's programs and activities to maintain and improve the quality of Minnesota’s lakes, rivers and streams.   

Prior to joining the MPCA, Rebecca was employed by the Metropolitan Council for 30 years in a variety of clean water programs, most recently serving as the Environmental Compliance Manager for the Council’s eight municipal wastewater treatment facilities in the seven-county St. Paul/Minneapolis metropolitan area.  In this role, she also represented the Council on a wide variety of statewide water policy committees, and led the development of both the Council’s phosphorus and mercury reduction strategies. 

Rebecca holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the Michigan State University.

David Thornton, Assistant Commissioner

David Thornton is one of three MPCA Assistant Commissioners.  He is responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of the agency's air policies to improve and maintain air quality in Minnesota.

David joined the MPCA staff in 1980 as the Acid Rain Coordinator.  After that, he managed air quality monitoring, data analysis and air policy activities for many years. Most recently he has been involved with implementing federal regional haze regulations, and developing policies to help reduce air emissions, particularly mercury emissions from power plants.

Originally from Texas, David is a graduate of Texas Christian University with a degree in chemistry and attended graduate school at the University of Minnesota where he studied atmospheric chemistry and environmental science.