New environment gates must satisfy both runtime and CI ownership contracts

When adding a fail-closed environment gate, treat its configuration key and shared helper as inputs to every repository contract that inventories runtime behavior. Adding the product code, example configuration, and focused tests may still leave CI incomplete if dedicated test lanes own source paths declaratively or if E2E validates an exhaustive partition of environment variables. Run the exact ownership and environment-contract checks locally before the broad suite. Classify a disabled value explicitly rather than weakening the exhaustive check.

Applicability and limits: This applies to repositories with declarative CI routing or exhaustive E2E environment inventories. It does not imply that every application needs those controls, and the appropriate classification depends on whether the variable is a credential, loopback destination, runner-owned value, or intentionally disabled setting.

Applies when: A new environment-controlled boundary is imported broadly or declared in a canonical env example. Keywords: environment gate CI ownership E2E contract allowlist staging