1. (a) In the event that the hearing official considers a prehearing conference necessary, he may convene a prehearing conference.

2. (b) The purpose of a prehearing conference is to allow the parties to settle or narrow the dispute. A prehearing conference consists of—

   1. (1) A telephone conference call;
   2. (2) An informal meeting of the parties with the hearing official; or
   3. (3) The submission and exchange of written materials by the parties.

3. (c) All prehearing conferences requiring appearances by the parties shall take place in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.

   (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1094)

[52 FR 30115, Aug. 12, 1987, correctly designated at 52 FR 46354, Dec. 7, 1987, as amended at 57 FR 47753, Oct. 19, 1992]