Policy Statement

Declaration of Policy on use of Alternative Means of Dispute Resolution

Pursuant to the provisions of the Administrative Dispute Resolution Act of 1996 and the Presidential Memorandum of May 1, 1998, implementing that act, the ______________ Department/Agency recognizes that in appropriate circumstances, there may be more effective methods to resolve issues in controversy that arise involving the Department/agency than through reliance upon more adversarial administrative processes. The voluntary use of alternative means of dispute resolution, such as mediation, fact-finding, ombuds, neutral evaluation, and arbitration, often can provide faster, less expensive, and more effective resolution of disputes that arise with employees, contractors, the regulated community and others with whom the Department/agency does business. In recognition of this, the _____________ Department/Agency declares that: (1) its managers and attorneys will be knowledgeable about alternative means of dispute resolution, (2) its managers and attorneys will examine the suitability of using alternative means of dispute resolution when issues in controversy arise involving the Department/agency, and (3) in appropriate disputes, its managers and attorneys will use alternative means of dispute resolution in a good faith effort to achieve consensual resolutions of issues in controversy involving the Department/ Agency