FIELD OPS · CONTROLLED DOCUMENT
AE-SOP-0312 — Covert Sampling & Chain of Custody
To define the controlled collection, handling, and custody of environmental, effluent, and tissue samples so that every result the League produces is admissible, reproducible, and unimpeachable before a prosecutor, regulator, or journalist. The strongest blow the League strikes is a sealed package no adversary can dispute; this procedure is what makes the package hold.
ActiveField OpsRev D
1. Purpose
To define the controlled collection, handling, and custody of environmental, effluent, and tissue samples so that every result the League produces is admissible, reproducible, and unimpeachable before a prosecutor, regulator, or journalist. The strongest blow the League strikes is a sealed package no adversary can dispute; this procedure is what makes the package hold.
2. Scope
All Document-tier evidence collection across field and station operations.
- In scope: Water, sediment, effluent, and tissue sampling intended for exposure or prosecution; in-situ documentation; transport and sealing.
- Out of scope: Routine husbandry water testing (AquaLink mesh); Disrupt-tier gear recovery, which follows AE-SOP-0320.
3. Definitions
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Aliquot | A divided portion of a single sample, sealed separately so an independent lab can re-test identical material. |
| Custody Chain | The unbroken, signed record of every person who held a sample from collection to the sealed evidence locker. |
| Field Blank | A clean control carried through the full sampling process to prove no contamination was introduced by the team or gear. |
| Evidence Reference | The AE-EVD-YYYY-NNN identifier under which a sealed package is lodged with Evidence & Custody. |
4. Responsibilities
| Role | Responsibility |
|---|---|
| Marine Forensics Lead (Owner) | Owns the procedure; sets the evidentiary standard per sortie; signs final disposition of each package. |
| Sampling Operator | Executes collection to standard; maintains in-situ documentation and the custody chain to the locker. |
| Legal & Ethics | Confirms admissibility standard and approves any onward disclosure under AE-SOP-0401. |
| NEREID | Time-stamps and geotags imagery, cross-checks sample logs, and flags any custody-chain gap for review. |
5. Sample Integrity Requirements
| Sample Type | Container | Preservation | Hold Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface / effluent water | Amber tamper-evident HDPE | Chill ≤ 6 °C, dark | ≤ 48 h to lab |
| PFAS / persistent organics | PFAS-free certified bottle | Chill, no Teflon contact | ≤ 14 d frozen |
| Heavy metals | Acid-washed bottle | Acidify to pH < 2 | ≤ 28 d |
| Tissue (bioindicator) | Solvent-rinsed foil + jar | Flash-freeze on dry ice | ≤ 30 d frozen |
Note. A broken seal, a missed hold time, or a gap in the custody chain renders a sample inadmissible. Discard and re-collect rather than lodge a compromised aliquot.
6. Materials & Equipment
- Pre-labelled tamper-evident containers matched to the sample type (see Integrity table)
- Field blanks and trip blanks for every sampling run
- Calibrated field meters (pH, conductivity, DO) with current calibration record
- Chilled transport with temperature logger; dry ice for tissue
- Imaging device with NEREID time/geotag sync and a witness scale
- Sealed custody-chain form set and AE-EVD reference block
7. Procedure
7.1 Pre-Sortie
- Brief the team on the evidentiary standard before the sortie, not after, and confirm the target dossier and tier.
- Verify all containers, blanks, and meters against the Sample Integrity table; record meter calibration.
- Open the custody-chain form and reserve an AE-EVD reference with Evidence & Custody.
7.2 Collection
- Collect into the correct tamper-evident container; never decant between containers.
- Photograph each sample in situ with time, position, and a witness scale; NEREID confirms the geotag.
- Take a field blank at each site to prove the team introduced no contamination.
- Split every sample into at least two sealed aliquots for independent re-test.
7.3 Custody & Lodging
- Sign the custody chain at every transfer; an unsigned transfer voids the sample.
- Maintain preservation and hold times through transport; log transport temperature.
- Lodge the sealed package and full chain with Evidence & Custody under the AE-EVD reference.
- Do not disclose, summarise, or release any result; disclosure follows AE-SOP-0401 only.
8. Records
- AE-EVD-YYYY-NNN sealed evidence package (retained to case close + 7 years)
- Signed custody-chain form set
- Field and trip blank results
- In-situ imagery with time/geotag metadata
- Meter calibration and transport temperature logs
9. References
- AE-SOP-0301 — Target Dossier Opening & Tiering
- AE-SOP-0401 — Pollution-Exposure Release Authorisation
- AE-MET-013 — Contaminant Load
- AE-MET-018 — Evidence Packages Filed
10. Revision History
| Rev | Date | Author | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| A–B | 2088–2089 | Marine Forensics Lead | Initial issue; container and hold-time matrix established. |
| C | 2090-09-30 | Marine Forensics Lead | Added field/trip blanks and mandatory split aliquots. |
| D | 2091-02-10 | Marine Forensics Lead | NEREID time/geotag integration; Legal & Ethics approval of admissibility standard. |