With University of Hawai'i-West O'ahu's final environmental impact statement completed, the university's main hurdle now will be getting money from the Legislature for construction — something officials have been trying to do for more than 20 years.

The final EIS was submitted to the state Friday for review by the Office of Environmental Quality Control and forwarding to Gov. Linda Lingle. But getting the state Legislature to approve the $35 million UH is requesting for construction will likely be the more difficult task. Some lawmakers, however, vow to push hard on behalf of the four-year university for the rapidly growing area.

"It just doesn't make any sense to hold back on the development of UH-West O'ahu," said state Sen. Clayton Hee, chairman of the Senate Higher Education Committee.

The committee requested the same amount for UH-West O'ahu last session, but the money was "cut out" in the state House, Hee said.

The final EIS reveals some new details about the plan for UH-West O'ahu. Among them are the construction of at least one public elementary school to serve the planned residential area and the possible construction of a "lab school" similar to the one that serves UH-Manoa.

Also included in the development is the construction of more than 4,000 residential units, including 761 student housing units. There are also plans for about 842,900 square feet of commercial space.

Potential environmental impacts, such as noise, soil erosion, dust and traffic disruption, would primarily occur during the construction period, according to the EIS. No significant impacts are expected following the construction period. The report did say that traffic volume in the area of the campus is expected to increase, but it also said the campus could reduce town-bound traffic.

According to the university's final EIS, UH-West O'ahu will be situated on 214 acres within a 500-acre parcel of state land in Kapolei, bordered by Farrington Highway, the future North-South Road and a future Department of Hawaiian Home Lands residential subdivision. Plans call for the construction of four buildings for administrative and instructional use.

Following the first phase of construction, which is estimated to be completed by fall 2009 pending approval of the funding, the university will be able to accommodate 1,520 students. The size of the parcel will be large enough for the university to possibly expand to 7,600 students in the future.

The remaining 287 acres of land would be sold to private developer Hunt Building Co. Ltd. Revenue from the sale would be used to construct the first phase of the campus, according to the EIS.

Total cost of the infrastructure and buildings is expected to be about $150 million, with the requested $35 million making up the university's portion of that.

Other plans include construction of a 12-acre public elementary school adjacent to low-density residential land and the possible creation of a "lab school" on the UH-West O'ahu campus. The proposed lab school would coincide with the school's new Bachelor of Education Degree in Elementary Education, which it will seek approval for from the UH Board of Regents this week.

The report did acknowledge that increased traffic congestion was a key concern for residents and area businesses. While the EIS said UH-West O'ahu will increase traffic volume in the area of the campus, West O'ahu would incorporate public transit into the design of its campus as well. The campus is also expected to be situated near rail transit nodes.

However, UH-West O'ahu is expected to help reduce the density of town-bound traffic, the EIS said. About 23 percent of undergraduate students who attend UH-Manoa live on the west side of Red Hill, and providing additional education and employment opportunities in Kapolei could help divert eastbound traffic, according to the EIS.

"As long as the students (on the west side of O'ahu) go to Manoa, traffic will only get worse," Hee said.

The development of a four-year UH campus in West O'ahu is one of the highest-ranking projects in UH's systemwide budget.

Gene Awakuni, chancellor of UH-West O'ahu, has said that he is cautiously optimistic that the university will receive the money it is requesting. He said the fact that West O'ahu ranks high on the university's budget requests means there is a commitment by the system administration to the new campus.

"I'll do my part," Hee said. "If anything, my concerns have been underscored by the years of delay."

The university is also requesting authorization to raise and spend up to $100 million in private money for the West O'ahu project. The money would come from the private developer in exchange for development rights on nearly 300 acres of the site owned by the state, Awakuni said.

Reach Loren Moreno at lmoreno@honoluluadvertiser.com.