Information        and FAQs on

ELECTRONIC MEDIA

DESTRUCTION SERVICES

               

                       

                       

         

                           

                       

                             

                             

                         

                         

                 

               

ELECTRONIC MEDIA DESTRUCTION SERVICES AT THE FEDERAL RECORDS CENTERS

The Federal Records Centers (FRCs) now offer media degaussing and destruction services for

records stored on hard drives and removable media (CDs, DVDs, videotapes, diskettes, magnetic

tapes, cartridges, microfilm, etc.).

When the records on your electronic media reach the end of their prescribed retention period,

FRCs can securely degauss (erase) and/or shred your electronic media in industrial disintegrators,

bag and dispose of the shredded particulate, and provide you with a certificate of disposal. FRCs

can also degauss and crush computer hard drives. These processes ensure that that the records are

completely destroyed and that no information on the media is left accessible for unauthorized use.

Electronic media destruction is part of the comprehensive suite of e­records services that the FRCs

offer, including scanning services and electronic media storage. Visit www.archives.gov/frc/electronicrecords.html for information on other FRC services for electronic records.

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ELECTRONIC MEDIA DESTRUCTION SERVICES:

SHREDDING, DEGAUSSING, AND HARD DRIVE DESTRUCTION

Many Federal electronic records contain sensitive information. When these records reach

the end of their lifecycle, it is crucial for agencies to ensure that the information contained

in these records does not get into the wrong hands. Following the recommendations of

NIST Special Publication 800­88, the FRCs can help you mitigate the risk of unauthorized

use of this information by completely erasing and securely destroying both the information

and the media on which the information is stored. The FRCs offer three electronic media

destruction services: shredding, degaussing, and hard drive destruction.

Removable Electronic Media Destruction (Shredding)

FRC industrial disintegrators can thoroughly destroy a wide range of removable electronic media, including

CDs, DVDs, diskettes, magnetic tapes, and cartridges. Media can be shredded to particles no more than

3/32'' in size. FRC disintegrators meet National Security Agency standards for destruction of classified

optical media (CDs or DVDs) up to the Top Secret Level.

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Degaussing

The FRC degaussing process renders data stored on magnetic media unreadable by changing the magnetic properties of the media

surface. When a stronger alternating field is applied, magnetic flux is reduced to virtually zero, and exposed data are lost, leaving

the magnetic media in a magnetically neutral state. Degaussing is available for hard drives and certain types of removable

electronic media, such as backup tapes and digital tapes.

Hard Drive Destruction (Punching/Crushing)

The FRCs can completely physically destroy your agency’s hard drives. Hydraulically­loaded crushing machines can destroy

standard computer hard drives including laptop drives. The crusher uses 12,000 pounds of force to produce a conical punch

that causes catastrophic trauma to the hard drive chassis while also destroying the internal platter. This force is sufficient to

mutilate the drive so that it cannot be reconnected or reinserted into a functioning computer. The FRC crusher can destroy

3.5'', 2.5'' and 1'' hard disk drives (maximum dimensions: 1'' h x 4'' w x 5.8'' d). The drive types include SATA, PATA, SCSI,

Notebook/Laptop.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT

FRC ELECTRONIC MEDIA DESTRUCTION SERVICES

1. Which FRCs currently offer electronic media destruction

services?

The Washington National Records Center (WNRC) in Suitland, MD; the

Southwest Region FRC in Fort Worth, TX; and the Mid­Atlantic FRC in

Philadelphia, PA, (see contact information, back cover) offer electronic media

destruction services.

•	 The WNRC offers destruction services for classified optical media other

than hard drives (up to Top Secret) and unclassified media.

•	 The Fort Worth FRC offers degaussing, crushing, and shredding services for

unclassified media.*

•	 The Philadelphia FRC offers degaussing and hard drive destruction services

for unclassified media.*

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*Please note that the Fort Worth and Philadelphia FRCs can offer destruction

services for classified media (including hard drives) only if the media is

accompanied by an agency representative with the appropriate security clearance

and if the destruction of the records is witnessed by this representative. These FRCs

cannot store classified records.

Please see figure 1 (page 8) for further details on these services.

All Federal agencies, regardless of their geographical location, may send electronic
 

media to any of these locations for destruction.
 

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Figure 1: Services and Locations for Electronic Media Destruction

MEDIA TYPE SERVICES BY LOCATION

SHRED DEGAUSS PUNCH/CRUSH

Hard drives with

classified information

Service is not applicable to

this media type

Ft. Worth* or Philadelphia* Ft. Worth* or Philadelphia*

Hard drives without

classified information+

Service is not applicable to

this media type

Ft. Worth or Philadelphia Ft. Worth or Philadelphia

Magnetic, video, or audio tapes

with classified information

Ft. Worth* Ft. Worth* or Philadelphia* Service is not applicable

to this media type

Magnetic, video, or audio tapes

without classified information+

WNRC or Ft. Worth Ft. Worth or Philadelphia Service is not applicable

to this media type

Optical media (CDs, DVDs, etc.)

with classified information#

WNRC or Ft. Worth* Service is not applicable

to this media type

Service is not applicable

to this media type

Optical media (CDs, DVDs, etc.)

without classified information

WNRC or Ft. Worth Service is not applicable

to this media type

Service is not applicable

to this media type

*Service is available at this location, but must be witnessed by agency representative with the appropriate security clearance. This location cannot accept unaccompanied classified media and cannot store classified records.

+ Agencies with media that is not classified but that contains sensitive information (such as medical records, Privacy Act records, tax records, etc.) may wish to consider a two­step process for the destruction of this
 

media, e.g., degauss and then shred or punch).
 

# Optical media containing classified records may be destroyed by a one­step process (shredding only) as our process meets the NSA destruction requirements for shred size 3/32'' or less.
 
                           

       

                             

                               

                           

                           

                                 

                     

                                 

                                   

                         

                                 

                             

                                 

                             

2. I have electronic media that I would like to have erased and/or destroyed by the

FRC. Where do I start?

If your electronic media is currently stored somewhere other than in a NARA Federal Records Center,

please contact the FRC (see contact information, back cover) before shipping your media to the FRC for

destruction. Please note that FRCs can pick up electronic media from agencies in the metropolitan

Dallas/Fort Worth, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC, areas. FRCs may also be able to provide courier

services outside of these areas. Contact your local FRC for details and shipping rates. Please note that the

Fort Worth and Philadelphia FRCs cannot pick up or store classified media.

If your electronic media is currently stored at an FRC, when the disposition date of these records is

approaching, the FRC will send you a Notice of Eligibility for Disposal (NA Form 13001) or will notify you

through the Archives and Records Centers Information System (ARCIS). When you return the signed

disposal notice (or when you sign off on the disposal through ARCIS), the FRC will destroy (degauss and/or

shred) the records per your instructions and will provide you with a certificate of destruction upon

completion. Contact your local FRC for rates to ship your records to an FRC that can process destruction.

For more information on storing your agency’s electronic media in a Federal Records Center, please see

www.archives.gov/frc/electronic­records.html.
             

                                               

                                

                                       

                                                       

                                   

               

                           

                               

             

           

             

               

                 

3. What types of magnetic tapes can be degaussed?

In addition to hard drives (both LMR and PMR types) up to 6,000 Oe, a variety of magnetic tapes up to 2,800 Oe can be

degaussed. These types of media include: 3480/3490/3490e, 3590, 9840, and T9940 tapes; all DLT and SDLT tape

cartridges; LTO­1, 2, 3, and 4; Ultrium and Redwood SD­3 cartridges; Mammoth 1 and 2; 8mm; AIT 1 and 2; M2

tapes; Travan TR 3, 4, and 5; SLR 40, 50, 60, and 100; DDS 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5; DD­2; and DTF­1 and 2. If you have another

type of media, please check with your local FRC to see if it can be degaussed with our equipment.

4.	 What destruction services do FRCs offer for different media types?

The NSA/CSS Storage Device Declassification Manual details the following standards for electronic media destruction:

• Classified optical media may be destroyed by shredding alone if the shred size does not exceed 3/32''.

• Classified hard drives may be destroyed by degaussing.

• Classified tapes may be destroyed by degaussing.

• Non­classified optical media may be destroyed by shredding.

• Non­classified tapes may be destroyed by degaussing or shredding.

• Non­classified hard drives may be destroyed by degaussing and/or punching/crushing.

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The FRCs’ destruction services ensure complete destruction of your media. Our standard services include the

following processes for these media types:

• Classified optical media: shredding (with a shred size no larger than 3/32'')

• Classified tapes: degaussing plus shredding

• Classified hard drives: degaussing plus punching/crushing

• Non­classified optical media: shredding

• Non­classified tapes: shredding

• Non­classified hard drives: degaussing plus punching/crushing

5.	 How long does it take to degauss and crush a hard drive?

It takes only about 15 seconds to degauss each hard drive and an additional 15 seconds to crush it.

6.	 Can the FRCs destroy media that contain non­record material?

Yes. FRCs are authorized to destroy all kinds of data stored on electronic media, including non­record

material.

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7. How do the FRCs ensure security?

As a Federal agency, NARA knows how important it is to keep your agency’s records securely in Federal custody throughout

their life cycle. All electronic media destruction services are conducted or witnessed at an FRC by Federal employees who hold

the appropriate security clearances for the media being processed, so you can rest assured that your information is safe from

unauthorized disclosure throughout the disposal process.

The FRCs can accommodate disposal of electronic media witnessed by your agency representatives. Please note that witnessed

destruction by an agency representative with the appropriate security clearance is required for destruction of any classified

media at the Fort Worth or Philadelphia FRCs, since these facilities cannot store classified media.

8.	 Can the FRCs destroy media containing classified records?

Destruction services provided by the FRCs meet National Security Agency (NSA) standards for the destruction of

classified media and comply with the Committee on National Security Systems Instruction (CNSSI) No. 4004 Destruction

and Emergency Protection Procedures for COMSEC and Classified Material. See Figure 1, page 8 for more information on

which FRCs offer destruction services for classified media. Contact the FRC (see contact information, back cover) to

make special arrangements to transport your classified records for destruction and for classified destruction fees.

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The Fort Worth and Philadelphia FRCs cannot store classified records. However, these FRCs can process

destruction of classified media if an authorized agency employee (with appropriate clearance) witnesses the

same­day disposal.

9.	 Does the FRC media destruction equipment meet National Security Agency

(NSA) standards?

FRC industrial removable electronic media shredders fully meet National Security Agency (NSA) standards

for High Security Disentegrators (NSA/CSS 02­02) and Optical Media Destruction Devices (NSA/CSS 04­02).

Media can be shredded to particles no more than 3/32'' in size. The disentegrators shred to a confetti­like

particulate that cannot be reconstructed.

The degausser meets NSA standards (NSA/CSS EPL­Degausser, 30 Mar 2009) for degaussing of hard drives

(LMR and PMR) and magnetic tape media.

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10. How much do FRC electronic media destruction services cost?

FRCs offer competitive rates for electronic media destruction services. For more

information on rates, please contact an FRC (see contact information, back cover).

11. What kind of documentation is provided to agencies by the FRC on

completion of destruction?

FRCs provide a Destruction Certificate specifying that media and/or hard drives were

eligible for destruction pursuant to Federal guidelines (attested to by the owner agency)

and signed by the FRC employee effecting the disposal and providing a date of disposal.

The media are listed on the Destruction Certificate. The serial numbers of the hard drives

are also listed.

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12. What regulations govern the destruction of electronic

records?

The U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 36 CFR Chapter XII Subchapter

B ­ Records Management, outlines agency responsibilities for the retention and

disposition of records and includes a section on electronic records

management. These regulations can be accessed through the National

Archives' web site at www.archives.gov/about/regulations.

Other Federal standards referenced in this booklet include the NSA standards

for High Security Disintegrators (NSA/CSS 02­02), Optical Media Destruction

Devices (NSA/CSS 04­02), and Degaussers (NSA/CSS EPL­Degausser, 30 Mar

2009); the NSA/CSS Storage Device Declassification Manual; NIST SP 800­88,

Guidelines for Media Sanitization; and the Committee on National Security

Systems Instruction (CNSSI) No. 4004 Destruction and Emergency Protection

Procedures for COMSEC and Classified Material.

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The NARA Southwest Region Federal Records Center

1400 John Burgess Drive

Fort Worth, TX 76140

Tel: 817 551 2003

E mail: ftworth.eservices@nara.gov

Web: www.archives.gov/southwest/agencies

The Washington National Records Center

4205 Suitland Road

Suitland, MD 20746 8001

Tel: 301 778 1600

Web: www.archives.gov/facilities/md/suitland.html

The NARA Mid Atlantic Region Federal Records Center

14700 Townsend Road

Philadelphia, PA 19154 1025

Tel: 215 305 2000

Web: www.archives.gov/midatlantic/agencies/index.html

February 2010