The Oregon Department of Energy clarified Saturday’s announcement suspending the state’s ban on self-service gas stations, saying self-service is not mandatory and will happen only when a gas station owner exhausts staffing options.

The agency said the state’s gas station workforce is down by as much as half due to illness, childcare issues and safety concerns. The temporary suspension of the ban allows some gas stations to continue operating with less staff, it said.

The Oregon Fuels Association said in a statement that the change would also allow attendants "to help customers while avoiding face-to-face, hand-to-hand contact and apply social distancing practices. Attendants will sanitize equipment and fuel nozzles and assist customers with refueling as needed.”

Stations without attendants on hand are required to post safety signs for social distancing as well as instructions for how to operate a fuel pump. This temporary suspension is in effect through April 11, 2020, though it could be extended.

-- Ted Sickinger; tsickinger@oregonian.com; 503-221-8505; @tedsickinger

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