(a)(1) A pre-hearing conference may be convened by the ALJ if the ALJ thinks that such a conference would be useful, or if requested by--
(1) A pre-hearing conference may be convened by the ALJ if the ALJ thinks that such a conference would be useful, or if requested by--
(i) The designated Department official; or
(ii) The IHE.
(2) The purpose of a pre-hearing conference is to allow the parties to settle, narrow, or clarify the dispute.
(b) A pre-hearing conference may consist of--
(1) A conference telephone call;
(2) An informal meeting; or
(3) The submission and exchange of written material. (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1145g) [55 FR 33581, Aug. 16, 1990, as amended at 61 FR 66225, Dec. 17, 1996]