The following criteria will govern the determination of the extent to which classifications and proposed classifications will segregate the affected lands from settlement, location, sale, selection, entry, lease, or other forms of disposal under the public land laws, including the mining and mineral leasing laws. The segregative effect of each classification or proposed classification will be governed by applicable laws and regulations, and will be stated in the classification notice or decision.

The public lands classified or proposed to be classified under the regulations of this part will be kept open to (i.e., not segregated from) as many forms of disposal as possible consistent with the purposes of the classification and the resource values of the lands.

(a) Public lands classified or proposed to be classified for retention for multiple-use management will be segregated from those forms of disposal which, if the lands remain open thereto, could:

(1) Interfere significantly with the management of the lands under principles of multiple use and sustained yield, or

(2) Impair or prevent, to an appreciable extent, realization of public values in the lands, or

(3) Impair or prevent, to an appreciable extent, realization of the objectives of retention and management set forth in part 2420, or

(4) Lead to unnecessary expenditures of public or private funds arising out of individual efforts to acquire public lands under laws, which are in fact not applicable, because of the nature of the resources of the lands.

(b) In applying the criteria in paragraph (b)(1) of this section, land shall not be closed to mining location unless the nonmineral uses would be inconsistent with and of greater importance to the public interest than the continued search for a deposit of valuable minerals.

Public lands classified or proposed to be classified for disposal will be segregated from those forms of disposal which, if the lands remained open thereto, could interfere with the orderly disposal of the lands pursuant to appropriate law. Public lands classified or proposed to be classified for sale under the Public Land Sale Act (78 Stat. 988, 43 U.S.C. 1411-18) will be segregated from all forms of disposal under the mining and mineral leasing laws.