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preserve, and enhance historic, cultural, and natural resources." 52 The NEPA Preferred Alternative represents the Least Environmentally Damaging Practicable Alternative ( "LEDPA "), as determined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ( "EPA ").53 The United States Army Corps of Engineers ( "USACE ") likewise supports the NEPA Preferred Alternative. 54 In completing its thorough review of alternatives, GoTriangle carefully considered whether certain sections of the proposed D-OLRT route could be aligned differently. These Project Element Alternatives constitute different possible routes in the New Hope Creek and Little Creek areas of the project's route. As determined by the DEIS after careful evaluation, the other Project Element Alternatives have greater environmental impacts, particularly to undisturbed natural habitats, than the NEPA Preferred Alternative. For example, the C2 Alternative impacts 23 more acres of biotic resources than the NEPA Preferred Alternative. 55 The C1 and CIA Alternatives would impact undisturbed natural areas, such as the Little Creek Bottomlands and Slopes Significant Natural Heritage Area. 56 Importantly, the USACE informed GoTriangle that given the existence of a less - environmentally damaging alternative, the USACE would not authorize the C1 alternative with its corresponding significant adverse impacts to natural resources and public use of the Jordan Lake Game Lands .57 Although the DEIS nonetheless carefully studied this alternative, the USACE's unwillingness to grant GoTriangle use of the Jordan Lake Game Lands for the C1 Alternative effectively eliminates it as an option. 58 The NEPA Preferred Alternative also outperforms the New Hope Creek Alternatives in terms of impacts to the natural environment. The New Hope Creek LPA ( "NHC LPA ") Alternative would result in fragmentation of undisturbed forested areas and wetlands, and would create a new transportation corridor in the New Hope Creek Bottomlands. 59 The New Hope Creek 1 ( "NHC 1 ") Alternative fares slightly better than the NHC LPA Alternative, but would impact 7 more acres of hardwood forests than the NEPA Preferred Alternative. We are pleased that the selected NEPA Preferred Alternative impacts the fewest acres of biotic resources as compared to the other element alternatives, and we support GoTriangle in advancing this route for further evaluation and implementation. 60 51 Id. at 8 -26. 53 See id. at 8 -14. 54 See id. at 8 -14. 55 Id. at 8 -18. 56 Id. at 8 -17. 57 Id. at 8 -17, G -99. 58 See 16 U.S.C. § 460d (authorizing USACE to "grant leases of lands ... at water resource development projects . .. for such purposes as [the Secretary] may deem reasonable in the public interest "). 59 Id. at 8- 18 -8 -19. 60 See DEIS at Table 8.2 -1: D-0 LRT Alternatives Benefits and Consequences Matrix. 10