Final answer:
The U.S. Government's earnest commitment to environmental preservation began with the establishment of the EPA in 1970, influenced by the environmental movement and the success of the first Earth Day.
Step-by-step explanation:
The U.S. Government significantly committed to maintaining and preserving the environment with the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1970, a commitment spurred by the substantial success of the first Earth Day in the same year. The creation of the EPA, tasked with setting and enforcing pollution standards and backed by various environmental laws passed by Congress, marked a turning point in the federal government's approach to environmental issues. President Nixon, though not widely recognized as an environmentalist, promoted the creation of the EPA in response to increasing public demand and grassroots environmental movements.