Opinion ID: 805251
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Pre-Judgment Interest on Range Improvements

Text: The Hages cross-appeal seeking pre-judgment interest on the award for range improvements. Although we hold that the Hages are not entitled to compensation for range improvements under 43 U.S.C. § 1752(g), that does not end our inquiry because the Hages’ cross-appeal alleges a Fifth Amendment taking. To establish a Fifth Amendment taking, a claimant must identify a cognizable property interest. Acceptance Ins. Cos., 583 F.3d at 854. If the claimant fails to do so, we need not reach the issue of whether any property interest was taken. Air Pegasus of D.C., 424 F.3d at 1213. The Hages argue that the facts establish that they constructed range improvements, both on their own land and on the allotments for which they held grazing permits. Cross-Appellants’ Br. 62. These improvements include wells, pipelines, fences, and roads. Id. at 63. The Hages argue that they own the range improvements because they spent considerable time, effort, and financial resources building them. Id. at 62-67. The Hages also cite a 2009 decision by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), which directed the Hages to remove range improvement projects performed under the permits. CrossAppellants’ Reply Br. 11 (citing J.A. 1456-57). The mere fact that the Hages constructed and main- tained range improvements on federal land does not establish that they own a cognizable property interest in such improvements. The Claims Court noted that the grazing permits stated that “permanent improvements constructed, or existing for use, in conjunction with this permit are the property of the United States Government, unless specifically designated otherwise, or covered by a cooperative agreement.” Hage v. United States, 35 Fed. Cl. 147, 179 (Fed. Cl. 1996). The Hages failed to show any HAGE v. US 18 agreements establishing an ownership interest in the range improvements. Although BLM directed “[t]he removal of the range improvement projects under each Range Improvement Permit,” J.A. 1456, it does not follow that the Hages owned a cognizable property interest in range improvements absent any such designation. With regards to cooperative agreements, the BLM decision specifically stated, “Title to the range improvement projects authorized by these Cooperative Agreements is held by the United States as set forth in the applicable regulations and terms contained in these agreements.” J.A. 1458. The decision simply gave the Hages 180 days “to salvage all materials owned by the [Hage] Estate.” J.A. 1456. It is the Hages’ burden to establish cognizable property interests for the purposes of their takings claims. Klamath Irrigation Dist. v. United States, 635 F.3d 505, 519 n.12 (Fed. Cir. 2011) (citing Air Pegasus of D.C., 424 F.3d at 1212-13). The Hages have not met their burden because the evidence demonstrates only that they constructed or maintained the improvements on the federal lands, not that they owned title to those improvements. To the contrary, the evidence of record demonstrates that the improvements were the property of the United States government. Without evidence of ownership, the Hages cannot establish a cognizable property interest. To the extent that the Hages argue that they are entitled to a diminution in value for range improvements on their private property stemming from the cancelation of their permits, this argument is without merit. See Colvin Cattle, 468 F.3d at 808 (“That the ranch may have lost value by virtue of losing the grazing lease is of no moment because such loss in value has not occurred by virtue of governmental restrictions on a constitutionally cognizable property interest.”) (citing United States v. Fuller, 409 19 HAGE v. US U.S. 488, 493 (1973)). We thus affirm the denial of prejudgment interest for range improvements.