GOVERNANCE · CONTROLLED DOCUMENT
AE-SOP-0401 — Pollution-Exposure Release Authorisation
To govern the public release of an evidence package so that exposure can never be turned back on the League. The procedure guarantees that evidence is independently re-tested with an unbroken custody chain, that no League action could be blamed for the contamination, and that both Legal & Ethics and the Admiralty sign before any disclosure — releasing only a cleared exhibit set while the sealed master is retained.
ActiveGovernanceRev B
Doc Control AE-SOP-0401Revision BEffective 2090-02-26Next Review 2091-02-26Owner Legal & EthicsApprover Fleet AdmiraltyStatus ActiveClass RESTRICTED // TIDEWATER-EYES-ONLY
1. Purpose
To govern the public release of an evidence package so that exposure can never be turned back on the League. The procedure guarantees that evidence is independently re-tested with an unbroken custody chain, that no League action could be blamed for the contamination, and that both Legal & Ethics and the Admiralty sign before any disclosure — releasing only a cleared exhibit set while the sealed master is retained.
2. Scope
All exposure and disclosure actions on evidence packages.
- In scope: Pre-release verification, blame-back review, dual sign-off, public routing, and exhibit-set release.
- Out of scope: Collection and custody of the underlying samples, which follow AE-SOP-0312; the registry handling of any disclosed record, which follows AE-SOP-0220.
3. Definitions
| Term | Definition |
|---|
| Evidence Package | The sealed AE-EVD package and its custody chain, the basis of any exposure. |
| Blame-Back Review | The check that no League operation could be credibly blamed for the contamination on release. |
| Exhibit Set | The cleared subset of an evidence package approved for public release. |
| Sealed Master | The full original package, retained intact and never released, only the exhibit set goes out. |
4. Responsibilities
| Role | Responsibility |
|---|
| Legal & Ethics (Owner) | Owns the authorisation; confirms admissibility and blame-back clearance; co-signs release. |
| Marine Forensics Lead | Confirms independent re-test and an unbroken custody chain. |
| Fleet Admiralty | Co-signs disclosure and approves any GreenSky public-arm routing. |
| NEREID | Verifies custody-chain continuity and flags any package missing a re-test or sign-off. |
5. Release Authorisation Gates
| Gate | Requirement | Owner | Pass Condition |
|---|
| Independent re-test | Second accredited lab | Forensics Lead | Result confirmed |
| Custody chain | Unbroken, fully signed | Forensics Lead | No gaps |
| Blame-back review | No League-attributable cause | Legal & Ethics | Cleared |
| Dual sign-off | Legal & Ethics + Admiralty | Both | Both signed |
Note. All four gates must pass before any disclosure; a single failed gate holds the entire release, and the sealed master is never released — only the cleared exhibit set.
6. Materials & Equipment
- Sealed AE-EVD evidence package and custody chain
- Independent accredited-lab re-test result
- Blame-back review record
- Dual sign-off block (Legal & Ethics + Admiralty)
- GreenSky Aquatics public-arm routing channel
- Cleared exhibit-set compilation
7. Procedure
7.1 Verify
- Confirm the evidence is independently re-tested and the custody chain unbroken.
- Verify no League action could be blamed for the contamination on release.
- Hold the release if any gate fails.
7.2 Authorise
- Legal & Ethics and the Admiralty both sign before any disclosure.
- Approve the cleared exhibit set for release.
- Route through the GreenSky Aquatics public arm where an open hand serves better.
7.3 Release
- Retain the sealed master; release only the cleared exhibit set.
- Log the disclosure channel and recipients.
- Monitor downstream for any attempt to turn the exposure back on the League.
8. Records
- Release authorisation with dual sign-off (retained to case close + 7 years)
- Independent re-test result
- Blame-back review record
- Cleared exhibit set as released
- Disclosure channel and recipient log
9. References
10. Revision History
| Rev | Date | Author | Summary |
|---|
| A | 2089-03-08 | Legal & Ethics | Initial issue; dual sign-off and sealed-master retention established. |
| B | 2090-02-26 | Legal & Ethics | Added formal four-gate verification and blame-back review. |