Bill, 
 
    The Navy's current records disposition authority has a section
dealing with records disposal "When a State of War Exists or is
Threatened."  It states that records held outside the territorial limits
of the continental United States may be authorized for emergency
destruction if the United States is at war with another nation or
hostile actions appear imminent.  Authorization may come from the
Secretary of the Navy or from a local commander having custody of the
records.  Before destruction occurs, best judgment must be exercised to
determine that
 
    (1)  retention of the records would be prejudicial to United States
interests; or
    (2)  the records occupy space urgently needed for military purposes
and are without sufficient value to warrant continued preservation.  
 
    Within six months after a destruction occurs, cognizant individuals
must submit a report describing the records and stating the
circumstances of their destruction to the Navy records management
program office.  
 
    Unstated in the guidance but implicit in the context (to me at
least, since I'm a records manager) is the notion that if records are
considered to have continuing value, efforts should be made to get them
out of ham's way, if possible.  
 
    Navy guidance also has a provision for the emergency destruction of
records that are considered a "menace to property, health, or life."
Authority for this provision is based on 36 CFR 1228.92.  
 
Dean Bundy, CRM
Naval Research Lab
 
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