Sec. 1.18  Administrative Dispute Resolution.

    (a) The Commission has adopted an initial policy statement that 
supports and encourages the use of alternative dispute resolution 
procedures in its administrative proceedings and proceedings in which 
the Commission is a party, including the use of regulatory negotiation 
in Commission rulemaking matters, as authorized under the Administrative 
Dispute Resolution Act and Negotiated Rulemaking Act.
    (b) In accordance with the Commission's policy to encourage the 
fullest possible use of alternative dispute resolution procedures in its 
administrative proceedings, procedures contained in the Administrative 
Dispute Resolution Act, including the provisions dealing with 
confidentiality, shall also be applied in Commission alternative dispute 
resolution proceedings in which the Commission itself is not a party to 
the dispute.
[ 56 FR 51178 , Oct. 10, 1991, as amended at  57 FR 32181 , July 21, 1992]