other form that includes complete identification of the materials, the number of copies destroyed, and the date of destruction. The two officials responsible for destroying Top Secret and Secret materials will sign and date the record of destruc- tion. Retain records of destruction for a period of  2  years.  An  originator’s  statement  that  a document  may  be  destroyed  without  report doesn’t change the requirement to record the destruction. It only means you don’t have to tell the originator the document was destroyed. The  two  witnessing  officials  will  sign  the record of destruction when Top Secret and Secret materials are actually placed in the burn bag. When the burn bags are destroyed, appropriately cleared  personnel  should  again  witness  the destruction. Appropriately cleared personnel may destroy Confidential material and classified waste by an authorized means without recording destruction. Those personnel destroying classified material do not have to meet any rank, rate, or grade requirements.  However,  personnel  must  be familiar with the regulations and procedures for safeguarding classified information. A command operating a central destruction facility posts the security responsibilities of users and assumes any unassigned responsibilities itself. The central destruction facility may deny users the right to watch the complete destruction of the material or to check the residue after it is burned. In such cases, the central destruction facility is responsible for assuring destruction is complete and reconstruction is impossible. Methods of Destruction Burning has been the traditional method for destroying classified material because destruction is complete and disposition of the remaining ash is relatively simple. The remaining ash need only be stirred to ensure destruction is complete and reconstruction  is  impossible.  However,  pre- cautions have to be taken to prevent material or burning portions from being carried away by the wind.  Incinerators  can  destroy  most  types  of classified material, but the Clean Air Act has restricted  burning.    In  some  areas,  state  or municipal legislation prohibits burning. Shredding machines are relatively quiet and require little skill to operate. Shredders vary in their degree of effectiveness, depending on the mechanical condition of the equipment. The Navy allows the use of two types of shredding machines: the strip shredder and the cross-cut shredder. The strip shredder cuts the material into strips no greater than 1/32 inch in width. The cross-cut shredding machine reduces the material to shreds. You  may  shred  intermixed  classified  and Unclassified materials to prevent recognition or reconstruction of the classified material. You may use the strip shredder to destroy classified material and then handle the residue as Unclassified waste except when destroying communications security (COMSEC) and SCI materials. Pulverizers and disintegrators designed for destroying classified material are usually too noisy and dusty for office use. The Navy authorizes the use of some pulverizers and disintegrators to destroy photographs, film, typewriter ribbons, glass  slides,    and offset printing plates. It authorizes the use of others only to destroy paper products. Use wet-process pulpers to destroy classified water-soluble material. Since pulpers only destroy paper products, make sure you remove staples, paper clips, and other fasteners to prevent clogging of the security screen. Destroy microform by using an incinerator (where permitted by local environmental regula- tions) or a shredder approved for the destruction of classified microform. Aboard ships at sea, you may also destroy classified microform (except COMSEC and SCI materials) by cross-cut shredding provided the shreds are no larger than 3/64 inch by 1/2 inch. You may then throw the shreds into the ship’s wake. Unclassified messages and materials, including formerly  classified  materials  that  have  been declassified,  do  not  require  the  assurance  of complete destruction. Normally, do not destroy Unclassified materials by the classified material destruction system. However, the commanding officer or higher authority sometimes may approve its use because of unusual security factors or for efficiency. One exception is the  destruction  of  Unclassified  naval  nuclear propulsion  information  (NNPI).  If  possible, destroy these materials by methods authorized for destruction of classified material. If not possible, use an alternative that provides a reasonable degree of control during and after disposal. Specific methods depend on local conditions, but the  method  used  should  protect  against  un- authorized recovery of naval nuclear propulsion information   (NNPI). Contrary to widespread opinion, no security policy exists requiring destruction of Unclassified messages (except NNPI). Some telecommunications 9-26