FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Steve Carpinelli (202) 481-1225

Help The Center’s Data Mine Liberate

Gov’t Records During Sunshine Week
Online Series Highlights Inaccessible Federal Government Data

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 17, 2010 — As part of Sunshine Week, March 14-20,
The Center for Public Integrity and the Sunlight Foundation are looking for help
with The Data Mine, a new online series identifying inaccessible or difficult to use
information from the federal government.

So far, we've spotlighted how the public can examine more than 10 million
declassified CIA documents — but only by appearing in person at a National
Archives storage building in suburban Washington, D.C. The Data Mine has also
looked at how the Agriculture Department’s data-rich site continues to omit the
politically-sensitive annual listing of subsidy payments to individual farmers and
how OSHA refuses to hand over the results of millions of workplace tests for
toxic substances.

However, we need your tips on other federal government records, databases,

and filings that should be open to the public. Here’s what we’re looking for:

• Has the government denied your attempt to FOIA certain information?

• Are you aware of any government reports or data that are unnecessarily
hidden from public view?
• Have you successfully obtained government data, only to find it cumbersome
or impractical to use in today’s electronic environment?

From the CIA to the CDC, there's a wealth of concealed information out there,
and with your help, we can make sure that our government is taking the proper
steps to carry out President Barack Obama's Open Government Initiative.

Email all tips to: datamine@publicintegrity.org. Please indicate if you want to be

publicly credited on the Center’s website for your suggestion.

Let us know what federal data should be liberated, and we’ll start shining a light
on some dark corners of Washington.
Led by the American Society of News Editors, Sunshine Week is a national
initiative to open a dialogue about the importance of open government and
freedom of information. Participants include print, broadcast, online news media,
civic groups, libraries, nonprofits, schools, and others interested in the public's
right to know.

The Sunlight Foundation is a non-partisan, non-profit that uses cutting-edge technology and
ideas to make government transparent and accountable. Visit SunlightFoundation.com to learn
more about Sunlight’s projects, including Transparency Corps and Party Time.

The Center for Public Integrity is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, and independent digital news
organization specializing in original investigative journalism and research on significant public
policy issues. Since 1990, the Washington, D.C.-based Center has released more than 475
investigative reports and 17 books to provide greater transparency and accountability of
government and other institutions. It has received the George Polk Award and more than 32
other major journalism awards, including honors from Investigative Reporters and Editors, Online
News Association, Overseas Press Club, Society of Environmental Journalists, and Society of
Professional Journalists. www.publicintegrity.org