Section 37.01.01.101 - INFORMAL PROCEEDINGS01.Initial Processing. Informal proceedings include correspondence and the exchange of information between the agency and an applicant or petitioner during the agency's review of an application or petition. If a protest is filed opposing an application, or a response is filed to a petition, the agency will issue a Notice of Informal Settlement Conference. The agency may also issue a Notice of Informal Settlement Conference in un-protested one-party contested cases, where a party has requested a hearing before the agency.02.Informal Settlement Conference. All parties to a contested case or their representatives must attend the informal settlement conference. The informal settlement conference may be conducted by an agency employee. Informal settlement conferences are used to discuss applications or pleadings, explore settlement options, discuss the commencement and scheduling of formal proceedings, discuss additional informational needs, and evaluate the need for additional informal proceedings or alternative dispute resolution options such as mediation. The agency may conduct additional informal proceedings, which all parties or their representatives must attend, to assess the potential for settlement or resolution of all or a portion of the issues in a contested case.03.Stay of Informal Proceedings. During informal proceedings the agency may stay the contested case at the request of the applicant or petitioner, upon stipulation of the parties, when the agency determines that such delay will assist the agency in resolving or deciding the contested case, or when an agency moratorium prevents consideration of the application or petition.Idaho Admin. Code r. 37.01.01.101