Drone Rules for Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness
Drone flight is completely prohibited at Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness under the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. § 1131) and BLM regulations (43 CFR § 8560.0-5). Established in 2019 by the John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation Act, this 7,242-acre BLM wilderness in San Juan County contains internationally significant vertebrate fossi
Authorization Status
- Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned — Wilderness Act bans all motorized and mechanical equipment including UAS
- Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Banned — no commercial drone permits available; BLM commercial photography permit required for non-drone use only
Geographic Boundaries
Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness, San Juan County, New Mexico. Total area: 7,242 acres (29.31 km²) of badlands, clay hills, and sandstone cap rocks. Coordinates: 36°10'00" N, 107°55'02" W Nearest city: Bloomfield, NM (~34 miles north via US-550) Access: NM-57 (west of Nageezi) — parking along road adjacent to wilderness boundary; no trails, no services. Adjacent: Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness (southeast) and Navajo Nation (west) — tribal sovereign territory applies to adjacent lands. Airspace: Class G / Class E rural — no LAANC coverage. Established: March 12, 2019 (John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act, Pub. L. 116-9)
Regulations
- Wilderness Act, 16 U.S.C. § 1131 — UAS classified as motorized equipment; prohibited from launch, landing, or operation in designated wilderness
- 43 CFR § 8560.0-5 — BLM wilderness area management
- 43 CFR § 8360.0-7 — BLM prohibited acts on public lands
- Paleontological Resources Preservation Act (PRPA), 16 U.S.C. § 470aaa — internationally significant vertebrate fossil deposits including Fruitland Formation and Kirtland Formation specimens; fossil collecting prohibited without federal permit; drone disturbance of sites is a violation
- Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA), 16 U.S.C. § 470aa — cultural sites present
- Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), 16 U.S.C. § 703 — raptor nesting habitat; drone harassment is a federal offense
- John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation Act, Pub. L. 116-9 (2019) — authorizing statute establishing the wilderness designation
Penalties
- BLM fines up to $1,000 per violation under 43 CFR § 8360.0-7
- PRPA penalties up to $10,000 + imprisonment for fossil site disturbance
- ARPA penalties up to $20,000 + 2 years imprisonment
- MBTA penalties up to $15,000 + 6 months imprisonment
- FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day
- Criminal prosecution under 18 U.S.C. § 32 for willful airspace violations
- Equipment confiscation by BLM Farmington Field Office rangers
Special Permissions
No recreational drone permits available. Commercial non-drone photography permit:
Submit requests to: BLM Farmington Field Office, 6251 College Blvd., Suite A, Farmington, NM 87402 Phone: (505) 564-7600