Oops! EPA tweets about Kim Kardashian

The Environmental Protection Agency's fight to clean up water pollution got an extra splash of attention Tuesday, thanks to an Internet flub involving reality TV star Kim Kardashian.

The verified Twitter account for the EPA's Office of Water mistakenly published a message Monday night about an online game, "Kim Kardashian: Hollywood," in which players walk red carpets, attend photo shoots and get dolled up like a Kardashian. An agency spokeswoman said the off-topic tweet was done by an intern.

The government's tweet was removed within hours from the @EPAwater account, but not before a tweet from the account of Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., the 88-year-old co-author of the Clean Water Act, got in on the fun.

Dingell's account on Tuesday tweeted: "Staff has now informed me of what a Kardashian is. I'm only left with more questions."

The brief intersection between a celebrity and the federal agency in charge of tackling pollution gave an obscure EPA office a surge in popularity. Kardashian's lavish wedding to Kanye West made international headlines, and her show "Keeping up with the Kardashians" has been popular on the E! network for nine seasons.

The agency took the mistake in jest, apologizing for the error and thanking Kardashian for its 15 minutes of fame.