(a) At any time prior to 30 days after the pretrial conference, either party may request mediation. The mediator shall be selected from a list of 3 hearing officers provided by the Department of Labor, and each party may strike 1 hearing officer from the list of potential mediators. The hearing officer serving as the mediator for a claim shall not be the hearing officer assigned to a later hearing on the claim mediated. Mediation shall be conducted within 30 days of the request.
(b) Any mediation under this section shall be nonbinding. No transcription or other verbatim record of the proceedings shall be kept, and no testimonial evidence shall be given. Medical records or other documentary evidence may be considered, at the mediator's discretion, if it will assist the mediation process.
(c) If the parties involved in the mediation conference reach a settlement as to all or any part of the then-pending issues, the agreement shall be reduced to writing and signed by the parties, the parties' counsel, and the mediator. A signed mediation agreement shall be binding on the parties thereto as to those issues on which there is agreement, except that any such agreement shall be subject to review in accordance with § 2347 of this title.
(d) In any hearing before the Board, no evidence shall be permitted regarding the mediation, including evidence regarding any statements or positions taken by any party in the context of the mediation. The Board may admit into evidence any signed mediation agreement, if relevant to any pending issue.