e8be7a99-29f2-421e-95ec-190919c58f9b

## Authorization Status
- Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned
- Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit
- Airspace: ⚠️ Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (FLG) Class D —
  ATC authorization mandatory for all UAS operations
- Archaeological Layer: ⚠️ ARPA — 25 Sinagua cliff dwelling rooms;
  intact limestone alcove architecture; Hopi ancestral affiliation

## Geographic Boundaries
Walnut Canyon National Monument is located in Coconino County,
Arizona, administered by the National Park Service.
- Total area: ~3,579 acres
- Coordinates: 35.1697° N, 111.5025° W
- Nearest city: Flagstaff, AZ (~7 miles west)
- Nearest airport: Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (FLG) ~5 miles west
- Terrain: 400-ft deep Walnut Canyon; Kaibab Limestone cliffs;
  ponderosa pine rim forest; 25 cliff dwelling rooms in limestone
  alcoves; Island Trail descends into canyon via 240 steps
- Sinagua people occupation ~1100–1250 CE; ~100 individual rooms
  documented throughout canyon system
- Flagstaff Pulliam Airport Class D airspace overlaps monument
- Hopi Tribe and Navajo Nation cultural affiliation
- Adjacent to Coconino National Forest on canyon rim
- Airspace: Class D (FLG) — ATC authorization mandatory

## Regulations
- NPS Management Policies § 8.2.2 prohibits UAS in all NPS units
- 36 CFR § 1.5 — Superintendent's closure authority
- 36 CFR § 2.17(a)(3) — Prohibits air delivery/retrieval within monument
- FAA 14 CFR Part 107.41 — Flagstaff Class D (FLG); ATC authorization
  mandatory via LAANC or DroneZone for all UAS operations
- Archaeological Resources Protection Act (16 U.S.C. § 470aa) —
  Sinagua cliff dwelling rooms; limestone alcove architecture
  sensitive to rotor prop wash vibration; ARPA enforcement active
- National Historic Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. § 300101) —
  monument listed on National Register of Historic Places
- American Indian Religious Freedom Act (42 U.S.C. § 1996) —
  Hopi Tribe maintains active ancestral relationship with
  Sinagua/Hisat'sinom sites in Walnut Canyon
- Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) — peregrine falcon
  nesting on canyon limestone faces; Mexican spotted owl documented
- Coconino National Forest 36 CFR § 261.10 — applies on canyon
  rim lands outside monument boundary
- FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide

## Penalties
- NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation
- Misdemeanor charges under 36 CFR § 1.3
- FAA Class D violation: civil penalties up to $27,500/day +
  certificate action
- ARPA violations: fines up to $20,000 + 2 years imprisonment
- MBTA violations: fines up to $15,000 + 6 months imprisonment
- FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day
- Equipment confiscation by NPS rangers

## Special Permissions
- NPS Special Use Permit required; FAA Class D ATC authorization
  via LAANC required simultaneously
- ARPA federal research permit + Hopi tribal consultation required
  for cliff dwelling proximity operations
- Structural vibration assessment required before any low-altitude
  permit near limestone alcove dwellings
- Coconino National Forest coordination for rim operations
  outside monument boundary
Submit requests to: Walnut Canyon National Monument Superintendent,
3 Walnut Canyon Road, Flagstaff, AZ 86004
FAA LAANC: https://www.faa.gov/uas/programs_partnerships/data_exchange
Hopi Cultural Preservation Office:
PO Box 123, Kykotsmovi, AZ 86039

## Authorization Status
- Recreational: ❌ Absolutely prohibited — tribal sovereignty primary
- Commercial (Part 107): ❌ White Mountain Apache Tribe authorization
  required; FAA Part 107 does not confer rights over tribal airspace
- Tribal Sovereignty: ⚠️ ABSOLUTE — White Mountain Apache Tribe
  exercises full sovereign authority over reservation airspace
- ESA Layer: ⚠️ Apache trout (federally threatened) — headwaters
  critical habitat; Mexican spotted owl nesting documented
- Historic Layer: ⚠️ Fort Apache National Historic Landmark —
  most intact frontier military post in the American Southwest

## Geographic Boundaries
White Mountain Apache Reservation is located in Navajo, Apache,
and Gila Counties, Arizona, administered by the White Mountain
Apache Tribe.
- Total area: ~1,664,972 acres (~2,601 square miles)
- Coordinates: 33.7979° N, 109.9684° W (Whiteriver, tribal capital)
- Nearest city: Show Low, AZ (~40 miles northwest);
  Springerville, AZ (~60 miles northeast)
- Terrain: White Mountains (Baldy Peak, 11,420 ft MSL — highest
  point in Arizona outside Humphreys Peak); Salt River Canyon;
  Black River; Fort Apache (historical post, 1870–1922);
  Hon-Dah (tribal casino/resort area); Sunrise Park Resort
  (tribally owned ski area)
- Headwaters of Salt River and Little Colorado River on reservation
- Fort Apache National Historic Landmark — 28 original structures
  dating 1871–1922; most intact frontier military post in SW
- Apache trout (Oncorhynchus apache) — Arizona state fish;
  federally threatened; native only to White Mountains;
  reservation streams = primary critical habitat
- Mexican spotted owl (Strix occidentalis lucida) — federally
  threatened; old-growth ponderosa pine canyon nesting
- White Mountain Apache Game and Fish Department — active tribal
  conservation enforcement; game wardens patrol reservation
- Airspace: Class E above 700 ft AGL; surface Class G

## Regulations
- White Mountain Apache Tribal Code — sovereign authority over
  all reservation lands and airspace
- Federal Indian Law (25 U.S.C. § 177) — tribal sovereignty doctrine
- Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. § 1531) Section 9 — Apache
  trout critical habitat in reservation streams; drone disturbance
  of stream habitat = potential take via harassment; tribal and
  USFWS joint ESA enforcement
- ESA Section 9 — Mexican spotted owl nesting; 0.5-mile buffer
  zones around active nests enforced by tribal conservation officers
- National Historic Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. § 300101) —
  Fort Apache National Historic Landmark; drone vibration near
  1871-era wooden structures threatens structural integrity
- Archaeological Resources Protection Act (16 U.S.C. § 470aa) —
  extensive prehistoric and Apache cultural sites throughout
  reservation; tribal THPO exercises ARPA authority
- American Indian Religious Freedom Act (42 U.S.C. § 1996) —
  sacred springs, mountains, and ceremonial sites throughout
  White Mountains
- Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act
  (25 U.S.C. § 3001) — ancestral burial sites throughout reservation
- White Mountain Apache Game and Fish regulations — tribal
  wildlife harassment prohibition applies to all species
  including game animals, raptors, and fish
- FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide

## Penalties
- White Mountain Apache tribal court: equipment confiscation;
  fines; criminal charges; permanent reservation ban;
  tribal game wardens actively patrol and enforce
- ESA Section 9 (Apache trout): civil penalties up to $25,000;
  criminal penalties up to $50,000 + 1 year imprisonment
- ESA Section 9 (spotted owl): same penalty structure
- NHPA civil penalties for Fort Apache NHL structural damage
- ARPA violations: fines up to $20,000 + 2 years imprisonment
- NAGPRA violations: federal criminal prosecution
- FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day
- Criminal prosecution under 18 U.S.C. § 32 for willful violations

## Special Permissions
- White Mountain Apache Tribe Historic Preservation Office is
  the primary authorization pathway
- Fort Apache NHS area: separate coordination with Fort Apache
  Heritage Foundation required in addition to tribal permit
- ESA Section 7 biological assessment required for Apache trout
  stream corridor and spotted owl nesting zone operations
- Film and research: tribal permit required; all footage subject
  to tribal review; Sunrise Park Resort area may have separate
  commercial operations protocols
Submit requests to: White Mountain Apache Tribe Historic
Preservation Office,
PO Box 700, Whiteriver, AZ 85941
Fort Apache Heritage Foundation:
PO Box 628, Whiteriver, AZ 85941

## Drone Rules - Wupatki National Monument










**Drone use is prohibited** at Wupatki National Monument.



















### Key Rules
- No recreational drone flights within the monument
- Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit
- Over 2,700 archaeological sites including multi-story pueblos built after the Sunset Crater eruption are protected



















### Source
- Wupatki NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/wupa/planyourvisit/rules.htm

## Authorization Status
- Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned
- Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit
- Dual Monument Layer: ⚠️ Wupatki and Sunset Crater share loop road
  and airspace corridor — single flight may violate two separate
  NPS closure orders simultaneously
- Tribal Layer: ⚠️ Hopi Tribe and Navajo Nation dual cultural
  affiliation — both assert ancestral connection to Sinagua sites
- Volcanic Layer: ⚠️ Sunset Crater Volcano NM immediately adjacent —
  TFR activation authority under 14 CFR § 91.137

## Geographic Boundaries
Wupatki National Monument is located in Coconino County, Arizona,
administered by the National Park Service.
- Total area: ~35,422 acres
- Coordinates: 35.5197° N, 111.3911° W
- Nearest city: Flagstaff, AZ (~30 miles south)
- Terrain: Painted Desert; red Moenkopi sandstone; sparse high desert
  scrub; Wupatki Pueblo (largest Sinagua structure in northern AZ —
  ~100 rooms); Wukoki Pueblo; Lomaki Pueblo; Citadel Pueblo;
  Nalakihu Pueblo; Box Canyon Dwellings
- 2,700+ documented archaeological sites throughout monument
- Sinagua culture occupation ~1100–1225 CE following 1064 CE
  Sunset Crater eruption; agricultural intensification via
  volcanic ash soil enrichment
- Hopi Tribe — direct ancestral affiliation to Sinagua/Hisat'sinom
  people; Wupatki is an ancestral homeland
- Navajo Nation lands immediately adjacent to eastern boundary
- Shares 36-mile loop road with Sunset Crater Volcano NM
- Airspace: Class E above 700 ft AGL; surface Class G

## Regulations
- NPS Management Policies § 8.2.2 prohibits UAS in all NPS units
- 36 CFR § 1.5 — Superintendent's closure authority (Wupatki)
- 36 CFR § 1.5 — Superintendent's closure authority (Sunset Crater)
  — dual closure orders apply along shared loop road corridor
- 36 CFR § 2.17(a)(3) — Prohibits air delivery/retrieval within monument
- Archaeological Resources Protection Act (16 U.S.C. § 470aa) —
  2,700+ sites; Wupatki Pueblo is among the most significant
  Sinagua/Hisat'sinom sites in NPS system; drone prop wash
  near ancient masonry constitutes potential ARPA disturbance
- American Indian Religious Freedom Act (42 U.S.C. § 1996) —
  Hopi Tribe maintains active ceremonial relationship with
  Wupatki as ancestral homeland; Navajo Nation cultural
  interests in adjacent lands
- Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act
  (25 U.S.C. § 3001) — ancestral human remains documented
  throughout monument
- 14 CFR § 91.137 — TFR activation authority for Sunset Crater
  volcanic/geothermal hazard area immediately adjacent
- Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) — prairie falcon
  and ferruginous hawk winter presence; burrowing owl documented
- FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide

## Penalties
- NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation per monument
  (dual violation = up to $10,000 total for loop road operations)
- Misdemeanor charges under 36 CFR § 1.3
- ARPA violations: fines up to $20,000 + 2 years imprisonment
- NAGPRA violations: federal criminal prosecution
- Active TFR violation (Sunset Crater): FAA civil penalties up to
  $27,500/day + certificate action
- MBTA violations: fines up to $15,000 + 6 months imprisonment
- FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day
- Equipment confiscation by NPS rangers

## Special Permissions
- NPS Special Use Permit required; must specify both Wupatki and
  Sunset Crater jurisdictions if operations cross loop road corridor
- Hopi Tribe Cultural Preservation Office consultation required
  for any Wupatki Pueblo area operations
- Navajo Nation coordination required for eastern boundary
  proximity operations
- ARPA federal research permit + multi-tribal consultation
  (Hopi, Navajo, Zuni, and other affiliated tribes) required
- Check active TFRs before any operation: https://tfr.faa.gov
Submit requests to: Wupatki/Sunset Crater Volcano NM Superintendent,
6400 N Highway 89, Flagstaff, AZ 86004
Hopi Cultural Preservation Office:
PO Box 123, Kykotsmovi, AZ 86039

## Authorization Status
- Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned
- Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit
- ESA: ⚠️ Kemp's ridley sea turtle — critically endangered nesting
- Military: ⚠️ NAS Corpus Christi restricted airspace adjacent

## Geographic Boundaries
Padre Island National Seashore is located in Kleberg,
Kenedy, and Willacy Counties, Texas, on the Gulf of Mexico.
- Total area: ~130,434 acres
- Length: 70 miles (longest stretch of undeveloped barrier island)
- Coordinates: 27.0000° N, 97.3667° W
- Includes Malaquite Beach, Bird Island Basin, South Beach,
  and Laguna Madre (hypersaline lagoon)
- Adjacent to NAS Corpus Christi restricted airspace
- Nearest city: Corpus Christi, TX (~40 miles north)

## Regulations
- NPS Management Policies § 8.2.2 prohibits UAS in all NPS units
- 36 CFR § 1.5 — Superintendent's closure authority
- 36 CFR § 2.17(a)(3) — Prohibits air delivery/retrieval within park
- Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. § 1531) — Kemp's ridley sea
  turtle (Lepidochelys kempii) critically endangered; UAS overflight
  constitutes ESA Section 9 harassment during nesting season
- Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) — protects
  nesting colonial waterbirds on Bird Island Basin
- Military airspace: NAS Corpus Christi Class D + restricted
  areas adjacent to seashore boundary
- FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide
- Airspace: Class G within seashore; Class D near NAS Corpus Christi

## Penalties
- NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation
- ESA Section 9 Kemp's ridley: up to $50,000 + 1 year imprisonment
- MBTA fines up to $15,000 + 6 months per bird disturbance
- Military airspace violation: federal criminal prosecution
- FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day
- Equipment confiscation by NPS rangers and/or Naval security

## Special Permissions
- NPS Special Use Permit required
- ESA Section 10 ITP for sea turtle nesting research
- NAS Corpus Christi coordination for southern seashore operations
- Sea turtle nesting blackout: April–August absolute ban on beaches
Submit requests to: Padre Island NS Superintendent,
20420 Park Road 22, Corpus Christi, TX 78418

## Authorization Status
- Recreational: ❌ Absolutely prohibited — tribal sovereignty primary
- Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Tohono O'odham Nation authorization
  required; FAA Part 107 does not confer rights over tribal airspace
- Border Layer: ⚠️ CRITICAL — 75 miles US-Mexico border; CBP active
  drone surveillance; unauthorized UAS in border zone triggers
  federal security response under DHS authority
- Sacred Site Layer: ⚠️ Baboquivari Peak — most sacred site in
  Tohono O'odham cosmology; absolute no-fly zone
- ESA Layer: ⚠️ Sonoran pronghorn critical habitat throughout
  western reservation

## Geographic Boundaries
Tohono O'odham Nation occupies lands in Pima, Pinal, and Maricopa
Counties, Arizona, administered by the Tohono O'odham Nation.
The nation consists of four non-contiguous districts:
- Main Reservation: ~2,773,000 acres (~4,333 square miles)
  Coordinates: 32.0000° N, 112.0000° W
- San Xavier District: ~71,095 acres (south of Tucson)
- Gila Bend District (Sif Oidak): ~10,282 acres
- Florence Village: ~35 acres
- Total area: ~2,854,412 acres — second largest reservation in U.S.
- Nearest city: Tucson, AZ (~60 miles northeast of main reservation);
  Ajo, AZ (~30 miles northwest)
- Terrain: Sonoran Desert bajadas; Baboquivari Mountains;
  Baboquivari Peak (7,734 ft MSL — most sacred site in Tohono
  O'odham cosmology; home of I'itoi, the Creator);
  Altar Valley; Sells (tribal capital)
- 75-mile US-Mexico international border (southern boundary) —
  longest tribal-international border in the United States
- Organ Pipe Cactus NM and Cabeza Prieta NWR on northern/western
  boundary
- Sonoran pronghorn (Antilocapra americana sonoriensis) — federally
  endangered; active recovery population on western reservation
- Tucson Class C airspace (TUS) overlaps San Xavier District
- Davis-Monthan AFB restricted airspace proximity near San Xavier
- Airspace: Class E above 700 ft AGL; surface Class G main
  reservation; Class C (TUS) at San Xavier District

## Regulations
- Tohono O'odham Nation Tribal Code — sovereign authority over
  all tribal lands and airspace; tribal law prohibits all
  unauthorized drone operations
- Federal Indian Law (25 U.S.C. § 177) — tribal sovereignty doctrine
- American Indian Religious Freedom Act (42 U.S.C. § 1996) —
  Baboquivari Peak is the most sacred site in Tohono O'odham
  cosmology; drone overflight = direct AIRFA violation; tribal
  law designates Baboquivari as absolute no-fly zone
- 6 U.S.C. § 211 — DHS/CBP operational authority in 75-mile
  border corridor; unauthorized UAS = federal security incident
- 19 U.S.C. § 1401 et seq. — customs laws; unauthorized drone
  operations near border crossing = federal customs violation
- Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. § 1531) Section 9 — Sonoran
  pronghorn federally endangered; western reservation = active
  recovery zone; drone disturbance = ESA take violation
- Archaeological Resources Protection Act (16 U.S.C. § 470aa) —
  extensive Hohokam and O'odham cultural sites throughout nation
- Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act
  (25 U.S.C. § 3001) — ancestral burial sites throughout nation
- FAA 14 CFR Part 107.41 — Tucson Class C authorization required
  for San Xavier District operations
- FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide

## Penalties
- Tohono O'odham tribal court: equipment confiscation; fines;
  criminal charges; permanent reservation ban
- AIRFA Baboquivari Peak violations: federal civil penalties;
  DOJ referral possible for egregious violations
- CBP border zone: federal criminal charges; DHS detention
  and investigation; potential prosecution under
  49 U.S.C. § 46307
- ESA Section 9 (Sonoran pronghorn): civil penalties up to
  $25,000; criminal penalties up to $50,000 + 1 year imprisonment
- ARPA violations: fines up to $20,000 + 2 years imprisonment
- NAGPRA violations: federal criminal prosecution
- FAA Class C violation (San Xavier): civil penalties up to
  $27,500/day + certificate action
- FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day

## Special Permissions
- Tohono O'odham Cultural Affiliation and Historic Preservation
  Department is the primary authorization pathway
- Baboquivari Peak: NO permit pathway under any circumstances;
  absolute tribal sacred site prohibition
- Border zone: CBP Tucson Sector coordination mandatory before
  any permit for southern reservation operations
- San Xavier District: FAA LAANC authorization required in
  addition to tribal permit (Tucson Class C)
- ESA Section 7 biological assessment required for western
  reservation Sonoran pronghorn recovery zone
Submit requests to: Tohono O'odham Nation Cultural Affiliation
and Historic Preservation Department,
PO Box 837, Sells, AZ 85634
CBP Tucson Sector: 2430 S Swan Road, Tucson, AZ 85711

## Drone Rules - Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park





**Drone flights are banned** at Black Canyon of the Gunnison.









### Key Rules
- No recreational drone use within the park
- Commercial filming requires a Special Use Permit
- Peregrine falcon nesting on canyon walls requires strict aerial buffer









### Source
- NPS UAS Policy: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/sound/uas.htm

## Authorization Status
- Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned
- Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit
- Wilderness: ❌ Black Canyon Wilderness absolute motorized ban
- Peregrine Falcon: ⚠️ Active nesting cliffs — seasonal absolute ban

## Geographic Boundaries
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is located in
Montrose and Gunnison Counties, Colorado.
- Total area: ~30,750 acres
- Coordinates: 38.5754° N, 107.7416° W
- Includes Painted Wall (2,250 ft — tallest cliff in Colorado),
  Gunnison River gorge, South Rim Drive, and North Rim
- Black Canyon Wilderness: ~15,598 acres
- Nearest city: Montrose, CO (~15 miles west)

## Regulations
- NPS Management Policies § 8.2.2 prohibits UAS in all NPS units
- 36 CFR § 1.5 — Superintendent's closure authority
- 36 CFR § 2.17(a)(3) — Prohibits air delivery/retrieval within park
- Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. § 1131) — absolute motorized ban
- Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) — Peregrine Falcon
  (Falco peregrinus) nesting cliff protection
- Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (16 U.S.C. § 668) —
  Golden Eagle nesting territories within canyon
- FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide
- Airspace: Class G; canyon downdraft creates severe
  operational safety hazards for UAS

## Penalties
- NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation
- Wilderness Act: fines up to $5,000 + 6 months imprisonment
- MBTA fines up to $15,000 + 6 months per falcon disturbance
- BGEPA: fines up to $10,000 + 2 years per eagle violation
- FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day
- Equipment confiscation by park rangers

## Special Permissions
- NPS Special Use Permit required
- Peregrine Falcon nesting blackout: March–July absolute ban
- Wildlife research: USFWS MBTA + BGEPA permits required
Submit requests to: Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP Superintendent,
102 Elk Creek, Gunnison, CO 81230

## Authorization Status
- Recreational: ❌ Absolutely and unconditionally prohibited
- Commercial (Part 107): ❌ No commercial permit pathway without
  explicit Hopi Tribe Cultural Preservation Office authorization;
  FAA Part 107 confers zero rights over tribal sovereign airspace
- Tribal Sovereignty: ⚠️ ABSOLUTE — Hopi Tribe exercises full
  sovereign authority over all reservation lands and airspace
- Ceremonial Layer: ⚠️ CRITICAL — kachina ceremonies, kiva rituals,
  and plaza dances are active living religious practice; aerial
  surveillance constitutes direct AIRFA violation and cultural harm
- Photography Prohibition: ⚠️ Most Hopi villages prohibit ALL
  photography including aerial; drone camera = automatic tribal
  criminal violation regardless of altitude

## Geographic Boundaries
Hopi Reservation is located in Navajo County, Arizona, an enclave
entirely surrounded by the Navajo Nation, administered by the
Hopi Tribe.
- Total area: ~1,542,306 acres (~2,410 square miles)
- Coordinates: 35.8258° N, 110.3645° W (Hopi Cultural Center,
  Second Mesa)
- Nearest city: Holbrook, AZ (~60 miles south); Winslow, AZ
  (~50 miles southwest)
- Terrain: three mesas rising above Painted Desert (First Mesa,
  Second Mesa, Third Mesa); Black Mesa plateau; Polacca Wash;
  Little Colorado River drainage
- Twelve villages on or near the mesas, some continuously inhabited
  for 1,000+ years:
  First Mesa: Walpi (inhabited since ~1690 CE — oldest continuously
  inhabited community in Arizona), Sichomovi, Hano (Tewa)
  Second Mesa: Shungopavi, Mishongnovi, Sipaulovi
  Third Mesa: Oraibi (~1100 CE — oldest continuously inhabited
  community in the United States), Hotevilla, Bacavi, Kykotsmovi
  Lower Villages: Polacca, Moenkopi (two-village enclave near Tuba City)
- Walpi and Oraibi are among the oldest continuously inhabited
  settlements in North America
- Kachina ceremonies (Katsina dances) held in plaza and kiva settings
  throughout the year; many ceremonies closed to non-Hopi observers
- Hopi Cultural Center on Second Mesa — tribal tourism hub; even
  here drone operations are absolutely prohibited
- Entirely surrounded by Navajo Nation — pilots approaching from
  any direction must cross Navajo Nation airspace first
- Airspace: Class E above 700 ft AGL; surface Class G — however
  tribal sovereignty creates absolute no-fly zone enforced
  independently of FAA airspace classification

## Regulations
- Hopi Tribal Code — sovereign authority is the supreme and
  primary jurisdiction over all activities on Hopi lands
  including airspace; Hopi Tribe enforces blanket prohibition
  on all unauthorized drone operations
- Federal Indian Law — 25 U.S.C. § 177 (Indian Nonintercourse Act)
  and tribal sovereignty doctrine; Hopi Tribe retains inherent
  sovereign authority over tribal territory including airspace
- American Indian Religious Freedom Act (42 U.S.C. § 1996) —
  kachina ceremonies, kiva rituals, and sacred mesa landscapes
  are among the most actively practiced indigenous religious
  traditions in North America; drone overflight during ceremonies
  constitutes direct federal religious freedom violation
- Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (25 U.S.C.
  § 3001) — ancestral burial sites throughout reservation
- Archaeological Resources Protection Act (16 U.S.C. § 470aa) —
  1,000+ years of continuous occupation deposits; Hopi ancestral
  sites throughout reservation
- Hopi photography ordinance — tribal law explicitly prohibits
  photography, video, and sketch/recording of Hopi ceremonies,
  kivas, altars, and designated village areas; aerial photography
  via drone is a categorical violation regardless of altitude
- National Historic Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. § 300101) —
  Walpi and Oraibi are eligible for National Historic Landmark
  designation; Hopi Tribe THPO exercises Section 106 authority
- FAA 14 CFR Part 107 — does not supersede tribal sovereignty;
  both frameworks apply simultaneously over tribal lands

## Penalties
- Hopi tribal court: immediate equipment confiscation; fines
  determined by tribal court; permanent ban from reservation;
  criminal charges under Hopi tribal law for sovereignty and
  ceremonial violations
- AIRFA violations: federal civil penalties; potential DOJ
  referral for egregious religious freedom violations
- ARPA violations: fines up to $20,000 + 2 years imprisonment
- NAGPRA violations: federal criminal prosecution
- FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day
- Criminal prosecution under 18 U.S.C. § 32 for willful violations
- Note: Hopi Police Department actively patrols reservation;
  non-tribal persons found with drone equipment on reservation
  without authorization face immediate detention

## Special Permissions
- Hopi Tribe Cultural Preservation Office is the ONLY valid
  authorization pathway; no NPS, BLM, FAA, or state permit
  can substitute
- Ceremonial areas and kiva sites: NO permit pathway exists
  under any circumstances
- Walpi and Oraibi village airspace: NO permit pathway
- Research and documentary work: extraordinarily rare; requires
  Tribal Council resolution authorizing specific project;
  all footage subject to tribal review before any public use
- Moenkopi District (near Tuba City): separate authorization
  required from Moenkopi District Council in addition to
  main Hopi Tribe authorization
Submit all requests to: Hopi Tribe Cultural Preservation Office,
PO Box 123, Kykotsmovi, AZ 86039
Phone: (928) 734-3612
Note: The Hopi Tribe receives hundreds of photography and
filming requests annually and approves very few; drone
requests are among the least likely to receive approval

## Authorization Status
- Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned along entire 444-mile corridor
- Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit
- Multi-state: ⚠️ Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama — three FAA regions

## Geographic Boundaries
Natchez Trace Parkway runs 444 miles through Mississippi,
Alabama, and Tennessee.
- Total area: ~52,302 acres (linear corridor)
- Southern terminus: 31.5564° N, 91.3739° W (Natchez, MS)
- Northern terminus: 35.9261° N, 87.0047° W (Nashville, TN)
- Passes near Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers (JAN), Tupelo (TUP),
  and Nashville (BNA) airports
- Includes 60+ historic sites and 3 wilderness areas
- Headquarters: Tupelo, MS

## Regulations
- NPS Management Policies § 8.2.2 prohibits UAS in all NPS units
- 36 CFR § 1.5 — Superintendent's closure authority
- 36 CFR § 2.17(a)(3) — Prohibits air delivery/retrieval within park
- National Historic Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. § 300101) —
  60+ historic sites along corridor
- Multi-state airspace: Class C near Jackson, MS and Nashville, TN;
  Class D near Tupelo, MS — location-specific ATC required
- FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide
- LAANC: check FAA UAS Facility Map for each specific location

## Penalties
- NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation per location
- NHPA penalties for historic site disturbance
- FAA Class C/D violation near airports: up to $27,500/day
- Equipment confiscation by park rangers

## Special Permissions
- NPS Special Use Permit required (covers entire corridor)
- LAANC or DroneZone authorization near Class C/D airports
- Historic research: NHPA + state SHPO review (MS, AL, TN)
Submit requests to: Natchez Trace Parkway Superintendent,
2680 Natchez Trace Parkway, Tupelo, MS 38804

## Authorization Status
- Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned
- Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without USFWS Special Use Permit
- Airspace Layer: ⚠️ Portions within Needles Airport (EED) Class D
  airspace — ATC authorization mandatory for those sections
- Military Layer: ⚠️ Proximity to Yuma MCAS restricted airspace
  (southern refuge units) — R-2507 series
- Wildlife Layer: ⚠️ MBTA + ESA — lower Colorado River migratory
  corridor; Yuma clapper rail critical habitat

## Geographic Boundaries
Havasu National Wildlife Refuge straddles Mohave County, Arizona,
and San Bernardino County, California, administered by USFWS.
- Total area: ~37,515 acres
- Coordinates: 34.6800° N, 114.4400° W
- Nearest city: Needles, CA (~5 miles north); Lake Havasu City, AZ
  (~25 miles south)
- Terrain: lower Colorado River backwaters, Topock Marsh (6,500 acres
  of cattail marsh — largest remaining freshwater marsh on lower
  Colorado), Bill Williams River confluence, desert uplands,
  mesquite bosque
- Straddles AZ-CA state line — dual state jurisdiction
- Needles Airport (EED) Class D airspace overlaps northern refuge
- Topock Gorge — Colorado River narrows; sacred to Mohave and
  Chemehuevi tribal nations
- Yuma clapper rail (Rallus obsoletus yumanensis) — federally
  endangered; Topock Marsh = critical habitat
- Southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus) —
  federally endangered; riparian nesting along Colorado River
- Lower Colorado River Valley designated Important Bird Area
- Airspace: Class D (EED) for northern sections; Class E/G elsewhere;
  R-2507 proximity for southern sections

## Regulations
- 50 CFR § 27.34 — Prohibits use of aircraft and drones within
  National Wildlife Refuges
- USFWS UAS Policy — blanket prohibition on all unmanned aircraft
- FAA 14 CFR Part 107.41 — Class D airspace (EED) ATC authorization
  mandatory for northern refuge sections
- Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. § 1531) Section 9 — Yuma clapper
  rail; Topock Marsh critical habitat designation; drone operations
  over marsh = take via harassment
- ESA Section 9 — Southwestern willow flycatcher; riparian nesting
  corridor along Colorado River; May–August nesting season = maximum
  ESA enforcement sensitivity
- Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) — lower Colorado River
  Valley; 318+ species documented; major Pacific Flyway migratory
  bottleneck
- Mohave and Chemehuevi tribal cultural interests — Topock Gorge
  and Colorado River corridor hold sacred significance
- Wild & Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. § 1271) — Bill Williams River
  designated Wild & Scenic
- FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide

## Penalties
- USFWS fines up to $5,000 per violation under 50 CFR § 27.34
- ESA Section 9 (Yuma clapper rail): civil penalties up to $25,000;
  criminal penalties up to $50,000 + 1 year imprisonment
- ESA Section 9 (willow flycatcher): same penalty structure
- FAA Class D violation: civil penalties up to $27,500/day +
  certificate action
- MBTA criminal penalties: fines up to $15,000 + 6 months imprisonment
- FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day
- Equipment confiscation by USFWS refuge officers

## Special Permissions
- USFWS Special Use Permit required; ESA Section 7 biological
  assessment mandatory for Topock Marsh and riparian corridor
- FAA LAANC or ATC authorization required before any permitted
  operation in Needles Class D airspace zone
- Mohave Nation and Chemehuevi Tribe coordination recommended
  for Topock Gorge operations
- Southwestern willow flycatcher nesting season (May–August) —
  riparian corridor operations prohibited during this window
  even with valid USFWS permit unless ESA Section 7 completed
Submit requests to: Havasu NWR Refuge Manager,
317 Mesquite Ave Suite 109, Needles, CA 92363
FAA LAANC: https://www.faa.gov/uas/programs_partnerships/data_exchange

Drone take off, landing, and control is not allowed from within the park. Flight over is technically allowed.



































https://www.nps.gov/shen/learn/management/drones.htm

## Authorization Status
- Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned
- Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit
- DC SFRA: ⚠️ Washington D.C. Special Flight Rules Area proximity
- Wilderness: ❌ Shenandoah Wilderness absolute motorized ban

## Geographic Boundaries
Shenandoah National Park is located along the Blue Ridge
Mountains in Augusta, Page, Rappahannock, Madison, Greene,
Albemarle, and Warren Counties, Virginia.
- Total area: ~199,045 acres
- Coordinates: 38.5321° N, 78.3522° W
- Includes Skyline Drive (105 miles), Old Rag Mountain (3,291 ft),
  Dark Hollow Falls, and Hawksbill Peak (4,051 ft — highest in park)
- Shenandoah Wilderness: ~79,579 acres
- Nearest city: Luray, VA (~5 miles east); D.C. (~75 miles northeast)

## Regulations
- NPS Management Policies § 8.2.2 prohibits UAS in all NPS units
- 36 CFR § 1.5 — Superintendent's closure authority
- 36 CFR § 2.17(a)(3) — Prohibits air delivery/retrieval within park
- Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. § 1131) — absolute motorized ban
- Washington D.C. Special Flight Rules Area (SFRA) —
  14 CFR § 93.335 applies within 60 NM of DCA; northern
  park sections fall within SFRA requiring ADIZ coordination
- FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide
- Airspace: Class G; northern sections near DC SFRA boundary

## Penalties
- NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation
- Wilderness Act: fines up to $5,000 + 6 months imprisonment
- DC SFRA violation: immediate intercept by military aircraft +
  federal criminal prosecution + certificate revocation
- FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day
- Equipment confiscation by park rangers

## Special Permissions
- NPS Special Use Permit required
- DC SFRA operations: mandatory FAA/TSA coordination
- Wilderness research permit from park superintendent
Submit requests to: Shenandoah NP Superintendent,
3655 US-211 E, Luray, VA 22835

## Drone Rules - Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore




**Drone use is prohibited** at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.










### Key Rules
- No recreational drone flights along the cliffs or lakeshore
- Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit
- The multicolored sandstone cliffs, Grand Sable Dunes, and Lake Superior shoreline are fragile and ecologically sensitive







### Source
- Pictured Rocks NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/piro/planyourvisit/rules.htm

## Authorization Status
- Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned
- Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit
- MBTA: ⚠️ Bald Eagle nesting cliffs — seasonal absolute ban

## Geographic Boundaries
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is located in Alger County,
Michigan, on the south shore of Lake Superior.
- Total area: ~73,235 acres
- Coordinates: 46.5595° N, 86.3992° W
- Includes Miners Castle, Chapel Falls, Miners Beach,
  Spray Falls, Grand Sable Dunes, and Hurricane River
- 42 miles of sandstone cliffs rising 50–200 ft above Lake Superior
- Active Bald Eagle nesting on cliff faces (March–August)
- Nearest city: Munising, MI (~1 mile west)

## Regulations
- NPS Management Policies § 8.2.2 prohibits UAS in all NPS units
- 36 CFR § 1.5 — Superintendent's closure authority
- 36 CFR § 2.17(a)(3) — Prohibits air delivery/retrieval within park
- Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) — Bald Eagle
  nesting cliff protection; disturbance prohibited March–August
- Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (16 U.S.C. § 668) —
  additional eagle-specific federal protection layer
- FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide
- Airspace: Class G; no controlled airspace over lakeshore

## Penalties
- NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation
- MBTA fines up to $15,000 + 6 months per eagle disturbance
- BGEPA: fines up to $10,000 + 2 years imprisonment per violation
- FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day
- Equipment confiscation by park rangers

## Special Permissions
- NPS Special Use Permit required
- Eagle nesting blackout: March–August absolute ban on cliff areas
- Wildlife research: USFWS MBTA + BGEPA permits required
Submit requests to: Pictured Rocks NL Superintendent,
N8013 Sand Point Road, Munising, MI 49862

## Drone Rules - Chiricahua National Monument








**Drone flights are banned** in Chiricahua National Monument.





















### Key Rules
- No recreational drone flights within the monument
- Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit
- The sky island ecosystem hosts over 170 bird species including rare elegant trogons



















### Source
- Chiricahua NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/chir/planyourvisit/rules.htm

## Authorization Status
- Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned
- Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit
- ESA Layer: ⚠️ Jaguar movement corridor — federally endangered;
  ESA Section 9 take prohibition active throughout monument
- Cultural Layer: ⚠️ Cochise Stronghold — Apache historical landscape;
  Chiricahua Apache ancestral territory
- Wilderness Layer: ⚠️ ~10,290 acres designated wilderness

## Geographic Boundaries
Chiricahua National Monument is located in Cochise County, Arizona,
administered by the National Park Service.
- Total area: ~11,984 acres
- Coordinates: 32.0122° N, 109.3417° W
- Nearest city: Willcox, AZ (~36 miles northwest);
  Douglas, AZ (~60 miles south)
- Terrain: Rhyolite Canyon; pinnacle rock formations (balanced rocks,
  sea of stone); Turkey Creek; Sugarloaf Mountain (7,310 ft MSL);
  mixed conifer and pine-oak forest; Sky Island biodiversity corridor
- Northernmost Sky Island in Madrean Archipelago biodiversity corridor
- Jaguar (Panthera onca) — federally endangered; documented movement
  through Chiricahua Mountains; El Jefe and other named jaguars
  have been camera-trapped in this corridor
- Chiricahua Apache ancestral homeland — Cochise and Geronimo
  historically occupied this landscape; Fort Bowie NHS nearby
- Faraway Ranch Historic District — National Historic Landmark
  within monument boundaries
- ~10,290 acres designated wilderness (P.L. 94-578)
- US-Mexico border ~60 miles south — CBP operational awareness
- Airspace: Class E above 700 ft AGL; surface Class G

## Regulations
- NPS Management Policies § 8.2.2 prohibits UAS in all NPS units
- 36 CFR § 1.5 — Superintendent's closure authority
- 36 CFR § 2.17(a)(3) — Prohibits air delivery/retrieval within monument
- Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. § 1531) Section 9 — jaguar
  federally endangered; Chiricahua Mountains are documented jaguar
  movement corridor; drone operations in canyon bottoms and forest
  zones = potential take via harassment
- ESA Section 9 — Mexican spotted owl (Strix occidentalis lucida)
  federally threatened; old-growth pine-oak canyon nesting documented
- ESA Section 9 — Chiricahua leopard frog (Lithobates chiricahuensis)
  federally threatened; Turkey Creek and riparian zones = critical habitat
- Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. § 1131) — ~10,290 acres designated
  wilderness; motorized prohibition
- Archaeological Resources Protection Act (16 U.S.C. § 470aa) —
  Chiricahua Apache and prehistoric Mogollon cultural sites
- National Historic Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. § 300101) — Faraway
  Ranch Historic District National Historic Landmark
- Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) — premier birding
  destination; 170+ species including elegant trogon, sulphur-bellied
  flycatcher, and zone-tailed hawk
- FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide

## Penalties
- NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation
- Misdemeanor charges under 36 CFR § 1.3
- ESA Section 9 (jaguar): civil penalties up to $25,000;
  criminal penalties up to $50,000 + 1 year imprisonment; USFWS
  Jaguar Recovery Program actively monitors southern AZ corridor
- ESA Section 9 (spotted owl + leopard frog): same penalty structure
- Wilderness Act violations: fines up to $5,000 + 6 months
- ARPA violations: fines up to $20,000 + 2 years imprisonment
- MBTA violations: fines up to $15,000 + 6 months imprisonment
- FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day
- Equipment confiscation by NPS rangers

## Special Permissions
- NPS Special Use Permit required; ESA Section 7 biological assessment
  mandatory for jaguar, spotted owl, and leopard frog habitat zones
- USFWS Tucson Ecological Services coordination required for
  jaguar corridor operations
- ARPA federal research permit + Chiricahua Apache tribal consultation
  required for cultural landscape documentation
- Wilderness compliance plan required for ~10,290-acre wilderness zone
Submit requests to: Chiricahua National Monument Superintendent,
12856 E Rhyolite Creek Road, Willcox, AZ 85643
USFWS jaguar coordination: Arizona Ecological Services Field Office,
2321 W Royal Palm Road Suite 103, Phoenix, AZ 85021

##
This action applies to the launching, landing, and operation of uncrewed aircraft on lands and waters administered by the NPS. Jurisdiction by the NPS ends at the park boundary. The policy memorandum does not modify any requirement imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on the use or operation of uncrewed aircraft in the National Airspace System.
































 
https://www.nps.gov/articles/uncrewed-aircraft-in-the-national-parks.htm

## Authorization Status
- Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned
- Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit
- Military: ⚠️ MCAGCC Twentynine Palms restricted airspace adjacent

## Geographic Boundaries
Joshua Tree National Park is located in Riverside and
San Bernardino Counties, California.
- Total area: ~795,156 acres
- Coordinates: 33.8734° N, 115.9010° W
- Includes Hidden Valley, Skull Rock, Cholla Cactus Garden,
  Keys View (5,185 ft), and Cottonwood Springs
- Adjacent to MCAGCC Twentynine Palms (largest USMC base)
- Joshua Tree Wilderness: ~585,040 acres
- Nearest city: Twentynine Palms, CA (~5 miles north)

## Regulations
- NPS Management Policies § 8.2.2 prohibits UAS in all NPS units
- 36 CFR § 1.5 — Superintendent's closure authority
- 36 CFR § 2.17(a)(3) — Prohibits air delivery/retrieval within park
- Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. § 1131) — absolute motorized ban
- Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. § 1531) — desert tortoise
  (Gopherus agassizii) threatened; Mojave fringe-toed lizard
- Military airspace: R-2507 and MOA areas adjacent to park
- FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide
- Airspace: Class G within park; military operations area adjacent

## Penalties
- NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation
- Wilderness Act: fines up to $5,000 + 6 months imprisonment
- ESA Section 9: up to $50,000 + 1 year per desert tortoise incident
- Military airspace violation: federal criminal prosecution
- FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day
- Equipment confiscation by park rangers

## Special Permissions
- NPS Special Use Permit required
- ESA Section 10 ITP for desert tortoise zone research
- Military airspace coordination for eastern park boundary operations
Submit requests to: Joshua Tree NP Superintendent,
74485 National Park Drive, Twentynine Palms, CA 92277

## Authorization Status
- Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned
- Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit
- ESA: ⚠️ Piping Plover critical nesting habitat — absolute seasonal ban

## Geographic Boundaries
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is located in Benzie
and Leelanau Counties, Michigan, on Lake Michigan.
- Total area: ~71,199 acres
- Coordinates: 44.8744° N, 86.0567° W
- Includes Sleeping Bear Dune Climb, Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive,
  North and South Manitou Islands, and Glen Lake
- Critical Piping Plover nesting beaches (May–August)
- Nearest city: Traverse City, MI (~25 miles northeast)

## Regulations
- NPS Management Policies § 8.2.2 prohibits UAS in all NPS units
- 36 CFR § 1.5 — Superintendent's closure authority
- 36 CFR § 2.17(a)(3) — Prohibits air delivery/retrieval within park
- Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. § 1531) — Piping Plover
  (Charadrius melodus) threatened; nesting beach UAS overflight
  constitutes ESA Section 9 harassment
- Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) — protects
  all migratory species on lakeshore
- FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide
- Airspace: Class G; no controlled airspace over lakeshore

## Penalties
- NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation
- ESA Section 9 Piping Plover: up to $25,000 civil +
  $50,000 criminal + 1 year imprisonment
- MBTA fines up to $15,000 + 6 months per bird disturbance
- FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day
- Equipment confiscation by park rangers

## Special Permissions
- NPS Special Use Permit required
- Piping Plover nesting blackout: May–August absolute ban
- Wildlife research: USFWS ESA + MBTA permits required
Submit requests to: Sleeping Bear Dunes NL Superintendent,
9922 Front Street, Empire, MI 49630

##
This action applies to the launching, landing, and operation of uncrewed aircraft on lands and waters administered by the NPS. Jurisdiction by the NPS ends at the park boundary. The policy memorandum does not modify any requirement imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on the use or operation of uncrewed aircraft in the National Airspace System.






























 
https://www.nps.gov/articles/uncrewed-aircraft-in-the-national-parks.htm

## Authorization Status
- Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned
- Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit
- Wildlife: ⚠️ Free-roaming bison herd — disturbance prohibited

## Geographic Boundaries
Theodore Roosevelt National Park consists of three units
in Billings, McKenzie, and Mercer Counties, North Dakota.
- South Unit: 46.9791° N, 103.5388° W (~46,158 acres)
- North Unit: 47.5877° N, 103.3388° W (~24,070 acres)
- Elkhorn Ranch Unit: 47.1500° N, 103.4667° W (~218 acres)
- Total area: ~70,446 acres
- Includes Painted Canyon, Little Missouri River (WSR),
  and free-roaming bison, wild horse, and elk herds
- Nearest city: Medora, ND (adjacent to South Unit)

## Regulations
- NPS Management Policies § 8.2.2 prohibits UAS in all NPS units
- 36 CFR § 1.5 — Superintendent's closure authority
- 36 CFR § 2.17(a)(3) — Prohibits air delivery/retrieval within park
- Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. § 1271) — Little Missouri
- Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) — protects
  ferruginous hawk and other raptor species
- FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide
- Airspace: Class G; no controlled airspace over park

## Penalties
- NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation
- WSR Act civil penalties for river corridor disturbance
- MBTA fines up to $15,000 + 6 months per raptor disturbance
- FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day
- Equipment confiscation by park rangers

## Special Permissions
- NPS Special Use Permit required
- Bison herd operations subject to additional park review
- WSR corridor: additional BLM coordination required
Submit requests to: Theodore Roosevelt NP Superintendent,
315 2nd Ave, Medora, ND 58645

## Drone Rules - Biscayne National Park





**Drone flights are banned** in Biscayne National Park.









### Key Rules
- No recreational drone flights over land or water within the park
- Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit
- Coral reefs and endangered sea turtles require strict protection







### Source
- NPS UAS Policy: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/sound/uas.htm

## Authorization Status
- Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned
- Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit
- Airspace: 🚫 Miami Class B (MIA) — most restrictive FAA category
- Marine: ⚠️ Coral reef ecosystem — ESA + Marine protection layers

## Geographic Boundaries
Biscayne National Park is located in Miami-Dade County,
Florida, between Miami and the Florida Keys.
- Total area: ~172,971 acres (95% water)
- Coordinates: 25.4824° N, 80.4170° W
- Includes Biscayne Bay, Elliott Key, Convoy Point,
  and northernmost Florida Reef tract
- Within Miami International Airport (MIA) Class B airspace
- Nearest city: Homestead, FL (~9 miles west)

## Regulations
- NPS Management Policies § 8.2.2 prohibits UAS in all NPS units
- 36 CFR § 1.5 — Superintendent's closure authority
- 36 CFR § 2.17(a)(3) — Prohibits air delivery/retrieval within park
- Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. § 1531) — manatee, sea turtle,
  and smalltooth sawfish critical habitat
- Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) — seabird colonies
- FAA Class B Airspace (MIA) — ALL UAS require explicit ATC clearance
- FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide
- LAANC: most grid cells show 0 ft AGL under Class B floor

## Penalties
- NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation
- ESA Section 9: up to $50,000 + 1 year imprisonment per species
- FAA Class B violation: civil penalties up to $27,500/day
  + immediate certificate suspension/revocation
- Equipment confiscation by park rangers

## Special Permissions
- NPS Special Use Permit required
- FAA Class B ATC clearance mandatory — no LAANC auto-approval
- Marine wildlife research: USFWS + NMFS permits required
Submit requests to: Biscayne NP Superintendent,
9700 SW 328th Street, Homestead, FL 33033

## Drone Rules - Guadalupe Mountains National Park




**Drone flights are banned** in Guadalupe Mountains National Park.









### Key Rules
- No recreational drone use anywhere in the park
- Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit
- Carlsbad Caverns proximity and bat colonies require strict aerial restrictions






### Source
- NPS UAS Policy: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/sound/uas.htm

## Authorization Status
- Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned
- Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit
- Wilderness: ❌ Guadalupe Mountains Wilderness absolute motorized ban

## Geographic Boundaries
Guadalupe Mountains National Park is located in Culberson
and Hudspeth Counties, Texas, on the New Mexico border.
- Total area: ~86,367 acres
- Coordinates: 31.9231° N, 104.8713° W
- Includes Guadalupe Peak (8,751 ft MSL — highest point in Texas),
  El Capitan cliff, McKittrick Canyon, and Salt Basin Dunes
- Guadalupe Mountains Wilderness: ~46,850 acres
- Nearest city: Van Horn, TX (~65 miles southwest)

## Regulations
- NPS Management Policies § 8.2.2 prohibits UAS in all NPS units
- 36 CFR § 1.5 — Superintendent's closure authority
- 36 CFR § 2.17(a)(3) — Prohibits air delivery/retrieval within park
- Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. § 1131) — absolute motorized ban
- Paleontological Resources Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. § 470aaa)
  — Permian fossil reef protections
- FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide
- Airspace: Class G; no controlled airspace over park

## Penalties
- NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation
- Wilderness Act: fines up to $5,000 + 6 months imprisonment
- PRPA: fines up to $10,000 + imprisonment for fossil disturbance
- FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day
- Equipment confiscation by park rangers

## Special Permissions
- NPS Special Use Permit required
- Paleontological research: NPS + PRPA federal permit
- Scientific research with NPS-approved research permit
Submit requests to: Guadalupe Mountains NP Superintendent,
400 Pine Canyon Road, Salt Flat, TX 79847

## Authorization Status
- Recreational: ❌ Absolutely Prohibited — Navajo Nation sovereign
  authority is primary jurisdiction; no recreational permit pathway
- Commercial (Part 107): ❌ No commercial permit without explicit
  Navajo Nation Parks and Recreation written authorization;
  FAA Part 107 does not confer any right to operate over tribal lands
- Tribal Sovereignty: ⚠️ ABSOLUTE — Navajo Nation exercises full
  sovereign authority over all tribal lands including airspace
- Sacred Site Layer: ⚠️ AIRFA — mittens, buttes, and valley floor
  are active sacred landscape features in Navajo cosmology

## Geographic Boundaries
Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park straddles the Arizona-Utah border
within the Navajo Nation, administered by Navajo Nation Parks and
Recreation Department.
- Total area: ~91,696 acres
- Coordinates: 36.9988° N, 110.0988° W
- Nearest city: Kayenta, AZ (~25 miles south)
- Terrain: Colorado Plateau sandstone buttes and mesas; West Mitten
  Butte, East Mitten Butte, and Merrick Butte (iconic formations);
  The Mittens, Three Sisters, John Ford's Point, and 11 major named
  formations; valley floor elevation ~5,564 ft MSL; butte summits
  ~1,000 ft above valley floor
- Entirely within Navajo Nation sovereign territory
- Active Navajo family homesites within valley floor — inhabited
  traditional landscape, not a static monument
- Sacred features: Aghaattiiin (West Mitten) and Tsé Biiʼ Ndzisgaii
  (valley) hold direct ceremonial significance in Navajo Diné Bikéyah
  (homeland) cosmology
- Airspace: Class E above 700 ft AGL; surface Class G — however
  Navajo Nation sovereign authority applies independently

## Regulations
- Navajo Nation Tribal Code Title 17 — sovereign authority over all
  activities on Navajo Nation lands including airspace use
- Navajo Nation Parks and Recreation permit system — all commercial
  and research operations require prior written authorization
- American Indian Religious Freedom Act (42 U.S.C. § 1996) — sacred
  landscape features; drone overflight of ceremonial areas violates
  AIRFA religious freedom protections
- Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (25 U.S.C.
  § 3001) — ancestral burial sites present throughout valley
- Archaeological Resources Protection Act (16 U.S.C. § 470aa) —
  Ancestral Puebloan and Navajo historic sites throughout tribal park
- National Historic Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. § 300101) — valley
  is on Navajo Nation Historic Preservation Department register
- FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide —
  does not supersede tribal sovereignty over tribal lands
- Photography and filming restrictions: Navajo Nation tribal law
  restricts commercial photography and filming of sacred formations
  and Navajo family homesites; drone camera = automatic tribal
  violation regardless of airspace position

## Penalties
- Navajo Nation tribal court: fines up to $5,000 + equipment
  confiscation + permanent ban from tribal lands
- AIRFA violations: federal civil penalties; DOJ referral possible
- ARPA violations: fines up to $20,000 + 2 years imprisonment
- NAGPRA violations: federal criminal prosecution
- FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day
- Criminal prosecution under 18 U.S.C. § 32 for willful violations
- Navajo Nation Police actively patrol valley and enforce tribal law

## Special Permissions
- Navajo Nation Parks and Recreation Department written authorization
  is the ONLY valid permit pathway
- Commercial film and photography: permit required; all crew members
  must be accompanied by authorized Navajo guide at all times
- Research operations: separate Navajo Nation Historic Preservation
  Department coordination required
- All permitted operations must avoid active family homesites and
  all named sacred formation overflights
Submit requests to: Navajo Nation Parks and Recreation Department,
https://www.navajonationparks.org/permits/
PO Box 2520, Window Rock, AZ 86515

## Drone Rules - New River Gorge National Park




**Drone flights are banned** in New River Gorge National Park and Preserve.










### Key Rules
- No recreational drone use within the park boundary
- Commercial filming requires a Special Use Permit
- Rock climbers, whitewater rafters, and peregrine falcon nesting sites make drones especially disruptive






### Source
- New River Gorge NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/neri/planyourvisit/rules.htm

## Authorization Status
- Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned
- Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit
- WSR: ⚠️ New River Wild & Scenic corridor restrictions

## Geographic Boundaries
New River Gorge National Park is located in Fayette, Raleigh,
Summers, and Nicholas Counties, West Virginia.
- Total area: ~72,808 acres
- Coordinates: 37.8736° N, 81.0773° W
- Includes New River Gorge Bridge (876 ft — longest steel arch
  bridge in Western Hemisphere), Grandview overlook,
  Grandview Rim Trail, and Sandstone Falls
- New River designated Wild & Scenic River
- Nearest city: Beckley, WV (~15 miles south)

## Regulations
- NPS Management Policies § 8.2.2 prohibits UAS in all NPS units
- 36 CFR § 1.5 — Superintendent's closure authority
- 36 CFR § 2.17(a)(3) — Prohibits air delivery/retrieval within park
- Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. § 1271) — New River corridor
- National Historic Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. § 300101) —
  New River Gorge Bridge National Historic Landmark
- FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide
- Airspace: Class G; no controlled airspace over park

## Penalties
- NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation
- WSR Act civil penalties for river corridor disturbance
- NHPA penalties for historic bridge landmark disturbance
- FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day
- Equipment confiscation by park rangers

## Special Permissions
- NPS Special Use Permit required
- Bridge Jump Day (Bridge Day festival): special operational
  restrictions apply — contact park for annual event rules
- Historic research: NHPA + SHPO review required
Submit requests to: New River Gorge NP Superintendent,
104 Main Street East, Glen Jean, WV 25846

## Drone Rules - Indiana Dunes National Park




**Drones are not permitted** in Indiana Dunes National Park.









### Key Rules
- No recreational drone flights on beaches or inland dune areas
- Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit from park administration
- Shorebird nesting habitat along Lake Michigan is protected from aerial disturbance






### Source
- Indiana Dunes NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/indu/planyourvisit/rules.htm

## Authorization Status
- Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned
- Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit
- Airspace: 🚫 Chicago Class B (ORD) — most restrictive FAA category

## Geographic Boundaries
Indiana Dunes National Park is located along the southern shore
of Lake Michigan in Porter and LaPorte Counties, Indiana.
- Total area: ~15,349 acres
- Coordinates: 41.6516° N, 87.0528° W
- Includes Mount Baldy (126 ft dune), West Beach, Cowles Bog
  (National Natural Landmark), and Calumet Trail
- Located within Chicago O'Hare (ORD) Class B airspace
- Nearest city: Chicago, IL (~40 miles west); Gary, IN (~15 miles west)

## Regulations
- NPS Management Policies § 8.2.2 prohibits UAS in all NPS units
- 36 CFR § 1.5 — Superintendent's closure authority
- 36 CFR § 2.17(a)(3) — Prohibits air delivery/retrieval within park
- FAA Class B Airspace (ORD/MDW) — strictest FAA category;
  ALL aircraft including UAS require explicit ATC clearance
  before entering Class B airspace regardless of altitude
- FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide
- LAANC: check FAA UAS Facility Map — most grid cells show 0 ft AGL

## Penalties
- NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation
- FAA Class B violation: most severe civil penalties up to
  $27,500/day + immediate certificate suspension/revocation
- Criminal prosecution for willful Class B intrusion
- Equipment confiscation by park rangers

## Special Permissions
- NPS Special Use Permit required
- FAA Class B ATC clearance mandatory — no LAANC auto-approval
- DroneZone waiver required for any Class B operations
Submit requests to: Indiana Dunes NP Superintendent,
1100 N Mineral Springs Road, Porter, IN 46304

## Drone Rules - White Sands National Park




**Drone use is prohibited** at White Sands National Park.










### Key Rules
- No recreational drone flights within park boundaries
- Commercial use requires a Special Use Permit
- Proximity to White Sands Missile Range creates additional airspace restrictions beyond NPS policy






### Source
- White Sands Things to Know: https://www.nps.gov/whsa/planyourvisit/things-to-know.htm

## Authorization Status
- Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned
- Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS + DoD dual permit
- Military R-Area: ⚠️ R-5107/R-5108 active — federal criminal charges

## Geographic Boundaries
White Sands National Park is located in Doña Ana and
Otero Counties, New Mexico, in the Tularosa Basin.
- Total area: ~145,762 acres
- Coordinates: 32.7872° N, 106.3255° W
- Includes gypsum dune field (~275 sq miles total dune field),
  Lake Lucero (gypsum source), and Alkali Flat Trail
- Surrounded by White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) on three sides
- US-70 closes periodically for missile testing
- Nearest city: Alamogordo, NM (~15 miles east)

## Regulations
- NPS Management Policies § 8.2.2 prohibits UAS in all NPS units
- 36 CFR § 1.5 — Superintendent's closure authority
- 36 CFR § 2.17(a)(3) — Prohibits air delivery/retrieval within park
- FAA Restricted Areas R-5107 and R-5108 — active DoD military
  airspace; unauthorized entry subject to military intercept
- 14 CFR § 73.3 — Restricted Area regulations
- FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide
- Airspace: Class G within park; R-areas active without notice

## Penalties
- NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation
- R-5107/R-5108 violation: federal criminal prosecution
- 18 U.S.C. § 1030 — unauthorized military airspace entry
- FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day
- Equipment confiscation by NPS rangers and/or military police

## Special Permissions
- NPS Special Use Permit required
- DoD/WSMR coordination mandatory for any operations
- R-area entry requires explicit DoD authorization
Submit requests to: White Sands NP Superintendent,
19955 US-70, Alamogordo, NM 88310

## Authorization Status
- Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned
- Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit
- MBTA: ⚠️ Critical grassland bird migration corridor

## Geographic Boundaries
Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is located in Chase County,
Kansas, in the Flint Hills region.
- Total area: ~10,894 acres
- Coordinates: 38.4342° N, 96.5586° W
- Includes Spring Hill Ranch (National Historic Landmark),
  Lower Fox Creek Schoolhouse, and bison herd grazing units
- Less than 4% of original 170 million acres of tallgrass
  prairie remains in North America
- Nearest city: Strong City, KS (~2 miles north)

## Regulations
- NPS Management Policies § 8.2.2 prohibits UAS in all NPS units
- 36 CFR § 1.5 — Superintendent's closure authority
- 36 CFR § 2.17(a)(3) — Prohibits air delivery/retrieval within park
- Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) — protects
  greater prairie chicken, dickcissel, upland sandpiper,
  and other grassland-dependent migratory species
- National Historic Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. § 300101) —
  Spring Hill Ranch National Historic Landmark
- FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide
- Airspace: Class G; no controlled airspace over preserve

## Penalties
- NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation
- MBTA fines up to $15,000 + 6 months per bird disturbance
- NHPA penalties for historic landmark disturbance
- FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day
- Equipment confiscation by park rangers

## Special Permissions
- NPS Special Use Permit required
- Wildlife research requires USFWS MBTA coordination
- Historic research requires NHPA + SHPO review
Submit requests to: Tallgrass Prairie NP Superintendent,
2480B KS-177, Strong City, KS 66869

## Authorization Status
- Recreational: ❌ Prohibited without written park manager authorization
- Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Requires EMNRD State Parks permit + FAA Part 107
  certification + NMDGF wildlife disturbance compliance
- Wildlife Layer: ⚠️ NMDGF black bear management regulations — spring
  denning emergence (April–May) and fall hyperphagia (August–October)
  are high-sensitivity periods
- Riparian Layer: ⚠️ Mora River corridor — Rio Grande cutthroat trout
  (state-listed sensitive species) present in upper drainage

## Geographic Boundaries
Coyote Creek State Park is located in Mora County, New Mexico, administered
by the NM EMNRD State Parks Division.
- Total area: ~80 acres (developed park); surrounded by Cibola National
  Forest — Mora/Kiowa Ranger District lands
- Coordinates: 36.1200° N, 105.1900° W
- Nearest city: Mora, NM (~17 miles south); Guadalupita, NM (~5 miles north)
- Terrain: Mora River canyon, ponderosa pine and mixed conifer forest,
  riparian cottonwood and willow corridor, Sangre de Cristo Mountain
  foothills at 7,700 ft MSL
- Active wildlife: black bear, Rocky Mountain elk, mule deer, wild turkey,
  mountain lion, Abert's squirrel
- Rio Grande cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii virginalis) — state-listed
  sensitive species; present in Mora River upper drainage
- Surrounded by Cibola National Forest — USFS regulations apply immediately
  outside park boundary; drone operations outside park perimeter require
  separate USFS compliance
- Airspace: Class E above 700 ft AGL; surface Class G

## Regulations
- New Mexico Administrative Code (NMAC) 19.6.1 — State Park rules prohibit
  drone operations without written park manager authorization
- New Mexico Department of Game and Fish — NMAC 19.31 et seq. — prohibits
  harassment of wildlife including black bear, elk, and deer by any means
  including drone overflight
- NMDGF Black Bear Management Plan — additional sensitivity protocols
  during spring denning emergence (April–May) and fall hyperphagia
  (August–October); drone disturbance during these periods may trigger
  enhanced enforcement
- Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) — migratory raptors and
  riparian songbirds present throughout Mora River corridor
- New Mexico Wildlife Conservation Act (NMSA 1978 § 17-2-1 et seq.) —
  state wildlife protection applies concurrently
- Cibola National Forest 36 CFR § 261.10 — applies immediately outside
  park boundary; operators must be aware of jurisdiction transition
- FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide

## Penalties
- EMNRD State Parks fines under NMAC 19.6.1: up to $500 per violation
  + removal from park
- NMDGF wildlife harassment: up to $1,000 per violation under NMAC 19.31
- NM Wildlife Conservation Act: additional state wildlife penalties
- MBTA criminal penalties: fines up to $15,000 + 6 months imprisonment
- USFS fines up to $5,000 per violation under 36 CFR § 261.10 for
  operations outside park boundary on National Forest lands
- FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day (commercial)
- State court misdemeanor charges for repeat or egregious violations

## Special Permissions
- Written authorization required from Coyote Creek State Park manager
- NMDGF wildlife disturbance review required; avoid April–May and
  August–October windows for any operation near riparian corridor
- Commercial operators must hold valid FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate
- USFS Mora/Kiowa Ranger District coordination required for any
  operation that extends beyond park boundary onto National Forest
Submit requests to: Coyote Creek State Park Manager,
PO Box 477, Guadalupita, NM 87722
NMDGF regional office: NM Dept of Game and Fish — Northeast Region,
215 York Canyon Road, Cimarron, NM 87714
USFS Mora/Kiowa Ranger District: 1709 N Riverside Drive, Española, NM 87532

## Drone Rules - Cuyahoga Valley National Park




**Drone flights are banned** in Cuyahoga Valley National Park.










### Key Rules
- No recreational drone use within the park
- Commercial filming requires a Special Use Permit from park administration
- The park is Ohio's only national park and protects the Cuyahoga River valley ecosystem





### Source
- Cuyahoga Valley NPS Rules: https://www.nps.gov/cuva/planyourvisit/rules.htm

## Authorization Status
- Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned
- Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit
- Airspace: ⚠️ Cleveland Class C (CLE) + Akron Class D (CAK)

## Geographic Boundaries
Cuyahoga Valley National Park is located in Summit and
Cuyahoga Counties, Ohio, between Cleveland and Akron.
- Total area: ~32,572 acres
- Coordinates: 41.2808° N, 81.5678° W
- Includes Cuyahoga River gorge, Brandywine Falls (65 ft),
  Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath, and Beaver Marsh
- Located between Cleveland Hopkins International (CLE) ~15 miles
  and Akron-Canton Airport (CAK) ~15 miles
- Nearest city: Cleveland, OH (~15 miles north)

## Regulations
- NPS Management Policies § 8.2.2 prohibits UAS in all NPS units
- 36 CFR § 1.5 — Superintendent's closure authority
- 36 CFR § 2.17(a)(3) — Prohibits air delivery/retrieval within park
- FAA Class C Airspace (CLE) — mandatory ATC authorization
- FAA Class D Airspace (CAK) — mandatory ATC authorization
- FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide
- LAANC availability: check FAA UAS Facility Map (CLE/CAK grid)

## Penalties
- NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation
- FAA Class C/D violation: civil penalties up to $27,500/day
  + possible certificate suspension
- Equipment confiscation by park rangers

## Special Permissions
- NPS Special Use Permit required
- FAA LAANC or DroneZone authorization mandatory
- Coordination with both CLE and CAK approach controls
Submit requests to: Cuyahoga Valley NP Superintendent,
15610 Vaughn Road, Brecksville, OH 44141

## Drone Rules - Pinnacles National Park





**Drone use is strictly prohibited** in Pinnacles National Park.









### Key Rules
- No recreational drone flights anywhere in the park
- Commercial filming requires a Special Use Permit
- California condor nesting in the pinnacles formations demands zero aerial disturbance







### Source
- Pinnacles Rules: https://www.nps.gov/pinn/planyourvisit/rules.htm

## Authorization Status
- Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned
- Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit
- Condor zone: ⚠️ ESA Section 9 — absolute disturbance prohibition
- Cave systems: ⚠️ CRPA — talus caves protected year-round

## Geographic Boundaries
Pinnacles National Park is located in San Benito and
Monterey Counties, California, in the Gabilan Range.
- Total area: ~26,606 acres
- Coordinates: 36.4906° N, 121.1825° W
- Includes High Peaks, Bear Gulch Cave, Balconies Cave,
  volcanic spire formations, and California condor nesting cliffs
- Active condor release site (reintroduction program since 1992)
- Nearest city: Hollister, CA (~32 miles north)

## Regulations
- NPS Management Policies § 8.2.2 prohibits UAS in all NPS units
- 36 CFR § 1.5 — Superintendent's closure authority
- 36 CFR § 2.17(a)(3) — Prohibits air delivery/retrieval within park
- Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. § 1531) — California condor
  (Gymnogyps californianus) critically endangered; UAS constitutes
  ESA Section 9 harassment
- Cave Resources Protection Act (16 U.S.C. § 4301) — talus caves
- FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide
- Airspace: Class G; no controlled airspace over park

## Penalties
- NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation
- ESA Section 9 condor harassment: up to $50,000 + 1 year imprisonment
- CRPA cave violations: fines up to $10,000 + imprisonment
- FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day
- Equipment confiscation by park rangers

## Special Permissions
- NPS Special Use Permit required
- ESA Section 10 Incidental Take Permit for condor-zone research
- CRPA federal permit for cave research
- Condor nesting season blackout: February–August
Submit requests to: Pinnacles NP Superintendent,
5000 CA-146, Paicines, CA 95043